Reports appearing in the international media have suggested that 42- year- old Hollywood superstar Julia Roberts secretly converted to Hinduism while shooting for her upcoming film, Eat, Pray, Love at the Hari Mandir Ashram near New Delhi last year.
Her recent declaration of being a “practising Hindu” notwithstanding, there are more than just spiritual swings to this religious transition — her new film is slated to be released worldwide on August 13.
Based on author Elizabeth Gilbert’s best- selling autobiographical novel of the same name, the film casts Julia as a divorcee who decides to travel the world, including a visit to India where she embraces Hindu spiritualism.
This is a significant theme in the film — it defines the ‘pray’ element in Eat, Pray, Love — and publicity shots for the film have suitably splashed photos of Julia in meditation poses and donning Indian attire.
“ I’m definitely a practising Hindu,” Julia, born to a Catholic mother and Baptist father, said recently, adding that her whole family, including celebrated cinematographer hubby Danny Moder, goes to temple together to “ chant and pray and celebrate”. When Julia was asked where she sees herself in her next life since the Hindu cosmology believes souls can be reincarnated, she said: “ I’ve been so spoiled with my friends and family in this life… Next time, I want to be just something quiet and supporting.” In the run- up to the film’s release, the actress has also discussed how her children were enchanted with Hindusim during their trip to India for the shoot.
Her 5- year- old son Finn had shaved his head before coming to India.
“Hazel (her daughter) also wanted to shave her head, but I let her shave the back half of her head. They would chant, and they were just interested (in Hinduism),” she said on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Julia added that Hazel wants to live in India when she grows up. No doubt her statements will help raise her film’s curiosity factor to Western audiences, who are eternally obsessed with exotic Eastern spirituality.
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