Cruising on his ‘fixed’ bike, named after famous WWE wrestler ‘Undertaker,’ Swami Jiva could easily pass for any 34-year-old office-going thrill-seeker—until you catch the serene, monk-like aura that defines this ‘Millennial Monk.’ In a candid chat with Times Now Digital at Sadhguru’s Isha Yoga Centre, this ‘late bloomer’ shared how his journey towards monkhood began in his late twenties, an age he wryly calls “fashionably late” for taking up the path of enlightenment. Born in Bengaluru in 1990, he earned a degree in hotel management from IHM Aurangabad for an “interesting lifestyle.
” With creativity at his core—Swami Jeeva, who was then known by a name that he “renounced” after becoming a monk, moved to Mumbai to explore filmmaking. “..
.We used to make short films, act in some, and sometimes direct,” he said, adding that he experimented with stand-up comedy, trying his luck at a few open mic events. Films, Swami Jiva said, have left a lasting impact on him.
“The Shawshank Redemption is one of them. Kal Ho Naa Ho and Swades are films I really like, and the same goes for Pulp Fiction,” the young monk said while revealing his favourites in direction—"Quentin Tarantino and Zoya Akhtar." This passion is continuing despite his busy schedule at the ashram; he still finds time to appreciate good cinema.
“The last movies I remember watching were Kantara and Oppenheimer.” The monk, who hasn’t renounced his passion, is a welcome reveal .
