Subhash Ghai is making a biopic on Bhagwan Rajneesh aka Osho. The movie, which will be made in English, will be directed by Italian director Lakshen Sucameli, who has previously directed films ‘Zorba il Buddha’ and ‘Blue Line’.

The screenplay of the movie, whose title has not been finalised, will be written by Sucameli and Kamlesh Pandey, the writer of ‘Rang De Basanti’.

Announced at the India Pavilion at the recent Cannes Film Festival, the film will be produced by the ace Indian filmmaker. According to reports, Ghai said that only a foreign filmmaker can do justice to a film dealing with one of the most controversial figures of the 20th century who continues to influence followers to his style of spirituality.

“All big leaders have been misunderstood during their lives. They are worshipped after 50 years. So is Osho. All their life, people want their leader to speak their language; the problem with the people is that they want (others) to think the way they think,” Ghai was quoted as saying by IANS.

“He was always against religion and casteism. Which is why he needs to be known internationally. He is a man of international wisdom and truth,” added the 73-year-old.

He had previously stated that Osho’s critics focus their attention on the spiritual guru’s views of sex and do not discuss his views on spirituality or poverty.

Reports say that the director, Sucameli, has himself been a Rajneesh disciple since 1978, and once used to reside at the cult’s ashrams in Pune and Oregon. Ghai, too, has been a student of Osho’s teachings.

The film will chronicle the life of Rajneesh, from his birth in 1931 till his death in 1990.

There has been a renewed interest in the life and teachings of the spiritual guru ever since the release of Netflix’s documentary ‘Wild Wild Country’. The documentary, which instantly gained critical acclaim, chronicles the controversial events that led to violence at Antelope, Oregon, where Rajneesh’s ashram was located.

In her book titled ‘Don’t Kill Him’, Anand Sheela – Osho’s most famous disciple – claimed that Rajneesh was killed and didn’t die a natural death.

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In the last chapter of her book, Sheela writes: “Even today I do not accept that it was a natural death. If it was natural, I would have certainly felt it. I have missed Him every day since then. His beautiful face, the special touch of His hand and feet, His charming voice, His madness—I have missed it all. I have never stopped loving Him and never will.”

Born as Chandra Mohan Jain on 11 December 1931 in Bhopal, Osho breathed his last on 19 January 1990 in Pune, aged 58.

(With agency inputs.)