Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar, Hrithik Roshan and Sonakshi Sinha were among those who bid the actor goodbye on Wednesday
Meena Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 4, 2017)

"In my religion, death is not to be feared.’’ Osho’s voice played in the background as mourners filed into Nehru Centre, Worli, on Wednesday evening for Vinod Khanna’s prayer meet. The 70-year-old actor, politician and longtime Rajneesh devotee lost a prolonged battle with cancer on April 27.

“Death is celebrated because there is no death,’’ the godman’s voice continued, as snapshots from the late actor’s albums chronicled his two marriages, the birth of his children – Rahul and Akshaye with first wife Geetanjali Taleyarkhan, and Sakshi and Shraddha with second wife Kavita Daftary – his political journey and his social life, painting a picture of a man who was a Greek God on desi shores.

Disciples of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar sang bhajans, as the family quietly took a seat in front of the stage. Earlier, Kavita had received visitors with her head bowed and hands folded. Rahul and Akshaye had been unable to stop the tears from flowing. Earlier in the day, Rahul had shared a picture of himself as a baby in the arms of his father as he planted a gentle kiss on his tiny forehead. It was a moment lost or perhaps captured forever.

Vinod Khanna’s film family was there too—Sridevi, his beloved Chandni, his biwi from Insaan, Reena Roy, his better half from Dayavan, Madhuri Dixit, his long-lost brother from Amar Akbar Anthony, Amitabh Bachchan, and his Dabangg daughter-in-law, Sonakshi Sinha. Also present were the Khans, Shah Rukh and Aamir Khan who came with wife Kiran Rao, Hrithik Roshan with parents Pinky and Rakesh, Farhan Akhtar with sister Zoya and business partner Ritesh Sidhwani. Shakti Kapoor was accompanied by wife Shivangi and Chunky Pandey came with mother Snehlata. Suresh Oberoi, Rajeev Kapoor, Adi Godrej were other faces spotted in a sea of dignitaries queuing up to offer their condolences.

One left the Prayer Meet with images of VK meditating at the Osho Ashram in Oregon. Perhaps he’s at peace today…