Bollywood celebrities' spiritual journey

You’d be surprised to know that a section of the stratosphere in Bollywood ranks a high spiritual quotient. Actor Shah Rukh Khan who claims that he finds acting “a spiritual experience” is looked upon as a ‘spiritual’ guru by several people he interacts with.

Co-star Kajol earlier said, “For me Shah Rukh Khan is like God. He is kind and will always take care of his friends’ problems. He is a person with whom it is very easy to discuss and talk. For me he is a very special human being.” Director Karan Johar is equally enthusiastic about King Khan, “To me, Shah Rukh is a very spiritual person. He is really God’s good son. He has the right kind of spiritual path that he tells you about if he feels close enough to you. I respect him like my father.”

Actor Hrithik Roshan has apparently undergone a fundamental transformation in his inner personality due to his sister Sunaina and mom Pinky introducing him to the teachings of the Oneness University in Chennai a couple of years ago.

He had said, “I have become much calmer. I’m not so concerned about making an impression anymore. I’m not better than the other guy. I’m not better than the maid who sweeps the floor in my house. And I’m not lesser than anyone. We are all the same.”

Actor Shilpa Shetty is also a follower of the Oneness University, though at one time she also followed the Art of Living system of beliefs. “The place was so beautiful and calm. It’s a fabulous mind and body healing course. When I met the spiritual leader at the Oneness University, I could feel his divine energy flow from him into me. I know it sounds like mumbo jumbo. You’ve to experience it to know how it feels,” said the actor earlier.

Actor Amala Akkineni was one of the first actors in the Indian film industry to undergo a Past Life Regression course in the USA as far back as the early 1990s. After a series of visionary past-life experiences, and meeting her life partner Nagarjuna, she walked away from movie stardom and entered the hapless world of Hyderabad’s sick, beaten and homeless stray animals. Today she is the secretary of the Blue Cross and actively involved with animal welfare and rights. She also practises yoga and meditates regularly.

Actor and entrepreneur Sushmita Sen, who is teaching her young daughters Renee and Alisah the customs and traditions of Bengal, including Durga worship, has something in common with Madonna, spiritually speaking. They are both followers of Kabbalah, a school of mysticism in Judaism.

Sushmita has an in-depth knowledge in the subject gained through the study of its scriptures and says that it has brought many changes in her life for the better. Through Kabbalah, she apparently found ways to stay young and yet age gracefully.

Actor and Bharat Natyam dancer Hema Malini finds her greatest joy from dancing and considers it a spiritual experience. As she had earlier explained in an interview, “A power helps me perform on stage. I can see it in the appreciation I receive. The scriptures say that a dancer is closest to God as his or her entire body surrenders in prayer.” She added, “Sadhus go to the Himalayas and do tapasya for years. But for us dancers, we achieve that on stage.”

Hema believes that Krishna is instantly accessible, “He has followers all over. He’s available to you whenever you want Him. We keep making mistakes knowingly and unknowingly. In the Bhagvad  Gita, He assures, ‘Think of me and I’m there’. I express my devotion through dance.”