'Aho Gurudev': Ranbir Kapoor, Hema Malini, Sonam Kapoor, Subhash Ghai, Sajid Nadiadwala join thousands to celebrate spiritual guru Rakeshji's 60th birthday
Ranbir Kapoor, Hema Malini, Sonam Kapoor, Subhash Ghai and Sajid Nadiadwala join thousands of devotees from 23 countries at 'Aho Gurudev'; 60 new seva and spiritual initiatives announced
Mumbai, September 27: The 60th birthday of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD), was celebrated with grandeur at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, on September 25 and 26. Titled 'Aho Gurudev', the two-day gathering spread over three sessions drew thousands of devotees from 23 countries, alongside spiritual leaders of various faiths, noted industrialists, and prominent names from cinema and public life.
Marking six decades of the founder's life, the Mission announced 60 new initiatives, half of them spiritual and half dedicated to selfless service, including a network of Love and Care Centres across India.
Ranbir Kapoor: "That's what true spirituality is"
Actor Ranbir Kapoor described himself as "speechless" on walking into the hall. "I have been in many places with large crowds, and you can sense the energy. Here it was very spiritual, very calm, full of love and smiling faces. That is very rare," he said.
Saluting the Mission's service work, he added, "To see specialised doctors travelling to the remotest parts of our country, healing people and helping people, I think that is what true spirituality is."
Speaking about his own journey, Kapoor shared that becoming a father two years ago coincided with playing Bhagwan Ram in Ramayana, which brought him closer to India's spirituality. "After knowing Gurudev, I know I will get closer to my goal. I cannot wait to visit the ashram in Dharampur."
Reflecting on Gurudevshri being called a "youth magnet", he said, "Even in a school, you can't get 30 children to listen to one teacher and follow. To see so many young people come together and believe in something shows it has touched them and made them more empathetic. In today's age of negativity and unrest, gatherings like this are truly needed."
Hema Malini: "Not merely 60 years of a life, but 60 years of light"
Veteran actor and three-time Member of Parliament from Mathura, Hema Malini, began her address with Sanskrit invocations and paid tribute to the guru-disciple tradition. "Today we celebrate not merely 60 years of a life, but 60 years of light: a divine journey that touched hearts, awakened souls and inspired generations," she said.
She spoke movingly of witnessing 11 young brothers and sisters take diksha during the celebration, calling it "a very emotional sight", and recalled the role of her own gurus in her life. "A guru gives you the right path. When we are confused, it is the guru who holds our hand and takes us forward."
Welcoming the Mission's plan to open 60 Love and Care Centres, including one near Mathura, she thanked Gurudevshri and invited him to Vrindavan, praying for his long life and good health.
Sonam Kapoor: "It held my hand through some very difficult times"
Actor Sonam Kapoor said the energy of the gathering had left her "completely blown away". Sharing a personal connection, she revealed that she had been practising sound healing with the Mission's disciples through her recent pregnancy. "I am five months postpartum, and it really held my hand through some very difficult times. When I was asked to come, I said yes straight away."
Subhash Ghai: "One person's vision can transform so many people"
Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai said the Mission represented "a different kind of spirituality: serving others". Recalling his mother's words, he said, "Success is to build yourself, and then share yourself with others."
On the scale of the seva initiatives, he said, "I was amazed at how one organisation, one person's vision, can transform so many people and make India a leading spiritual destination for the world. This is how a golden India can be built. The happiness you get from seva, you cannot get from anything else."
Sajid Nadiadwala: "We need to grow culturally as well"
Producer Sajid Nadiadwala said he was overwhelmed by the faith of devotees who had queued for three to four days to attend. "The 60 projects being built across India are what seva truly means: work done without expecting anything in return," he said.
Meeting Gurudevshri for the first time, he said, "It was a magical feeling. When anything is done without selfish reason, this is how people respond." Noting that the Mission is building an ashram in Nadiad, his family's hometown, in the 75th year of the Nadiadwalas, he expressed his hope to be part of it. "As our country grows economically, we need something that grows culturally in parallel. With such a divine presence, we can reach the level every Indian dreams of."