Meet woman who stood beside Aishwarya Rai in Miss India 1994, did 1st film with Akshay Kumar, later quit Bollywood to become monk due to…
Barkha Madan, once a Bollywood player and beauty queen, left fame to become a Buddhist monk named Gyyalten Sam in search of real peace.
Why did Barkha Madan choose the path of the monk?
There was a time when Barkha Madan made waves in fashion and the eye -catching world of Bollywood. His eyes had charm, trust and dreams of stars. Barkha, Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai, standing next to the Miss India 1994 competition left a strong impression. It wasn’t a little success to compete on such a big scene, but what really separates it is what he chose to do later.
While others from Pageant continued to build successful careers in films and modeling, Barkha decided to follow a completely different way, a spiritual path.
From Glamor to Grace
Barkha started his career as a model and even won the title of Miss Tourism India. He also took third international rank in Malaysia. These early victories could have been the beginning of a shining career, and in many ways. In 1996, he moved in the popular Bollywood film ‘Khiladiyon Khiladi’ and shared his screen with stars such as Akshay Kumar, Rekha and Raveena Tandon.
He didn’t stop there. Barkha also appeared in Ram Gopal Varma ‘Bhoot’ in 2003, where the role of the ghost manjeet Khosla had a strong impact on the audience. ‘Nyay’ on television, ‘1857 Kranti’ (Rani Lakshmibai) and ‘Saath Phere – Saloni Ka Safar’ left marks on shows.
A question that changes everything
On the surface, his life looked perfect. But in the deep, Barkha felt incomplete. He did not fill the gap he felt in fame, lights and applause. He began to ask him a strong question: Is life really?
Influenced by the teachings of Dalai Lama, Barkha slowly began to turn inward. He didn’t just read spiritual books, he really changed. In 2012, most people just dreamed of a brave decision: Glamoor completely abandoned the world and chose the path of peace.
A new name, a new life
A new name came with a new life: Gyyalten Samten. It wasn’t just a name change, but also a complete transformation of his identity. Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh left behind the world of cameras and red carpets to live as a Buddhist monk in the peaceful mountains.
No makeup, no focus of attention, no role to play, just real, meditation and inner peace. Barkha Madan is now a real example of how real happiness lies in peace of mind, not in fame, not in fame.
