Priyanka Chopra Jonas To Star In Movie Based On Osho's Rajneeshpuram Religious Movement — Will Actress Play Ma Anand Sheela?

Source: Priyanka Chopra/Twitter

Priyanka Chopra Jonas appeared on the Ellen Show and announced she is going to produce and star in a movie based on the Rajneesh religious movement. Led by the Indian guru Osho, a new generation learned about the group that moved to Oregon with a plan to take over a city’s government so the Rajneeshpuram would thrive, in the Netflix series Wild Wild Country. Though Chopra did not come out and say who she would play, it seems likely she would portray Ma Anand Sheela who was the alleged cult leader’s, right-hand woman.

Ma Anand Sheela had a fiery personality and after meeting Osho when she was a mere 16-years-old, believed she had met the master and she spent the following decades in complete devotion to him. As a spokesperson and representative for Osho and the Rajneesh, she conducted numerous media interviews throughout the height of the spiritual group’s activities.

The spiritual group’s leader was born Chandra Mohan Jain and went through several name changes including Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh before becoming known as Osho to followers. He was known for having a vast collection of Rolls Royces and at one point was referred to as the “Rolls Royce Guru.”

You may hear Priyanka Chopra Jonas discuss the upcoming film and project based on the Rajneesh group to Ellen DeGeneres in the video player below.

As the Rajneesh community drew plenty of media criticism in the eighties and engaged in many drawn-out public battles in Antelope, Oregon, it drew interest with a generation who wasn’t even born at the time due to the Netflix Wild Wild Country docuseries.

Described as a free love, sex commune, many of Osho’s spiritual practices have been adopted by other Yoga/spiritual communities and are still in use today. It wouldn’t be fair to say that the Rajneesh group has completely disbanded or been eradicated as the official Osho website has a thriving community that continues to offer spiritual retreats.

Some who have left the Rajneesh movement accused it of operating under abusive tactics and alleged sexual and physical abuse of adults and children took place.

Yoga/Meditation guru + Wild wild Sex #sectarism#pedocriminal osho rajnesh Now on netflix https://t.co/nzDcBefqAi

— Parental net Europe (@EuroParental) August 6, 2018

It’s not uncommon to see Osho’s teachings and quotes in Yoga studios across the country. There is no question that Osho and the Rajneesh movement has a strong following that continues to challenge depictions of the movement and its founder as well as being defined as a cult by many outside the group.

As Priyanka Chopra Jonas hasn’t delved into specifics, it’s unclear whether her upcoming film will be met with opposition or controversy based upon the subject matter or the response from current adherents to Osho’s teachings.