The premiere date for Netflix’s first Indian Original documentary film ‘Searching For Sheela’ is out. A Karan Johar offering, Searching For Sheela will drop worldwide on Netflix on April 22. Those not in the know about the ‘Sheela’ upon whom the documentary film is centered on, read on.
Searching For Sheela is a documentary film centred on Ma Anand Sheela, right hand of Bhagwan Osho Rajneesh, his most trusted advisor, manager of his Oregon Ashram, executioner of his wild schemes and plots — his chief secretary of sorts.
Ma Anand Sheela is also one of the most controversial figures in the long and chequered history of Osho Rajneesh. She is also supposedly the person behind one of the most large-scale incidents of bio-terrorism on American soil, when, to gain control over Rajneesh’s Oregon-based Ashram, she reportedly unleashed a devastating salmonella contamination in ten salad bars in Oregon, leading to 750 people being afflicted with food poisoning.
She was sentenced to jail for her crimes, and condemned by Osho as a murderer. Out of jail on parole within 3 years, she moved to Switzerland to live a quiet life. However, the release of the Netflix documentary Wild Wild Country renewed people’s interest in Ma Sheela. She returned to India after 34 years of living in relative obscurity, and to a new wave of fame and recognition for her controversial life.
Searching for Sheela captures her journey, her life upon return to India and her sudden return to fame. Many filmmakers are vying for a film or series on Ma Sheela since the explosive Netflix docuseries. Karan Johar beat everyone to it, though. Searching For Sheela is produced by Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, under Dharmatic and Jouska Films. Shakun Batra is executive producing.
Ma Anand Sheela premieres on Netflix globally on April 22. Watch this space at Binged.com for the trailer of the documentary film.