There was a rumour last year that Shakun Batra was about to helm a film on controversial godman Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh or Osho and his personal secretary Ma Anand Sheela. Sources had told The Quint that Aamir Khan had agreed to play Osho while Alia Bhatt has said yes to essaying the role of Ma Anand Sheela. The project was supposed to be produced under Aamir Khan Productions banner for Netflix. Speculations were also rife that Karan Johar’s Dharma productions had bought the rights to Osho’s story.
However, the project was reportedly shelved after Priyanka Chopra had agreed to play Ma Anand Sheela in a Hollywood film directed by Oscar-winner Barry Levinson. Now, photographs of Shakun Batra with Hiroo Johar have sparked fresh rumours.
It seems like the Kapoor and Sons director may revive the project.
Ma Anand Sheela is currently in India and in a conversation with Karan Johar, she spoke about the way of life at Rajneeshpuram, a utopian city for Rajneesh’s followers in rural Oregon in the US, the controversies surrounding her and how she still follows the communal lifestyle.
Ma Anand Sheela’s life is full of controversies. She had spent over three years in the US prisons in the 1980s over charges of assault. When questioned about Osho accusing her of arson, wiretapping, attempted murder and mass poisonings, she said that she was shocked. “Whatever he said made me sad but it was his problem and not mine. However, I can’t forget my love for him and I am eternally grateful for that,” she added.
Karan Johar also asked Ma Anand Sheela about her unrequited love for Rajneesh. To which she replied, “He was also very much in love with me. You should see some of the photographs and see how he looked at me. And the way he said ‘Seela’.”
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