He is reportedly leaving showbiz behind to move to India to pursue the Hare Krishna religion.
But Bobby Brazier has long been a devoted follower of the movement – which follows a branch of the Hindu faith – previously saying that through his relationship with God, he found what he’d been searching for, following his difficult childhood.
The actor, 22, is hoping to spend at least a year abroad, after immersing himself in the movement this summer.
And this week it was reported that he is planning to make the move to India soon after he leaves EastEnders later this year.
A source told The Sun: ‘Bobby is really excited and happy about his move to India. He’s been telling everyone about it and preaching to them about why he is devoted to Hare Krishna.
‘He’s such a nice young man, his heart is in the right place, but some people are surprised that he’s walking away from his career at a time when he’s on such a high with it.
Bobby Brazier has long been a devoted follower of the Hare Krishna movement, previously saying that through his relationship with God, he found what he’d been searching for, following his difficult childhood
The actor, 22, is reportedly leaving showbiz behind to move to India to pursue the religion and is hoping to spend at least a year abroad
‘He says he expects to be over there for a long while, at least a year, so maybe he will pick up on his career eventually when he’s back.’
The Mail revealed that Bobby turned to the organisation after relations became strained between him, his brother Freddy and their father Jeff.
So difficult did things become between him and Jeff, that Bobby moved out of his dad’s Essex home into his own Soho apartment, which is near to the Hare Krishna temple.
A source close to the family said: ‘Bobby’s always had a spiritual side, but this is intentional. It’s clear he’s trying to leave all the fighting and noise behind.
‘Freddy’s rebellion is loud – drugs, public slanging matches and legal battles about his nana – while Bobby’s is quiet. But actually it’s just as defiant.
‘He’s turning his back on the life his Dad created for them in Essex and following his own path.’
The soap star has been spending more and more time in Soho as of late after immersing himself in the movement at the Hare Krishna HQ.
There he has been immersing himself in daily spiritual rituals, chanting mantras, preparing communal meals and enjoying the religion’s peaceful outlook.
The Mail revealed that Bobby turned to the organisation after relations became strained between him, his brother Freddy and their father Jeff (pictured)
The soap star has been spending more and more time in Soho as of late after immersing himself in the movement at the Hare Krishna HQ
And those close to him insist his Hare Krishna practice is no fad, with one volunteer saying: ‘He’s here every Saturday without fail, he joins our kitchen session, learns the prayers – this isn’t a gimmick.’
Earlier this week, Bobby shared his love for the religion on Instagram with a slew of posts, writing: ‘Chanting Hare Krsna mantra is so good my heart’.
And he has made no secret of his love of Hare Krishna in the past, speaking about his faith on his Instagram and frequently attending the Hare Krishna Temple in London.
He was spotted out in the West End in June, appearing to be wearing Hare Krishna beads around his neck.
While last August, Bobby was snapped chatting to fellow devotees at the temple’s vegan restaurant, and offering a prayer to purify and bless his food before eating.
Over the past year, he has also been spotted dancing and chanting with other Hare Krishna devotees in the capital, with videos of the actor laughing and dancing along being circulated on social media.
Previously opening up on how Hare Krishna had changed his outlook on life, Bobby explained how he had spent a lot of time searching for ‘bliss and love and knowledge and peace and contentment’.
He told his fans that he had found these things through his relationship with God, and credited other worshippers that he’d met who had helped on his journey to ‘recognise what makes me feel truly happy’.
There he has been immersing himself in daily spiritual rituals, chanting mantras, preparing communal meals and enjoying the religion’s peaceful outlook
Over the past year, he has also been spotted dancing and chanting with other Hare Krishna devotees in the capital, with videos of the actor laughing and dancing along being circulated on social media
In the candid video shared to his Instagram in August 2023, Bobby said: ‘I had to make a video because I had an experience earlier.
‘I was in the temple and when I went in and when I went out the same person was standing outside. And they said, “Wow, you look so much happier now you’ve come out from when you went in.” And it was so true.
‘But it’s just made me start thinking. If you’ve been following me for a while or if you’ve known me for a while, you’ll know that I’ve been searching through many different phases for the same thing that we’re all searching for, that we’re all hankering after: bliss and love and knowledge and peace and contentment.
‘And the place in which I found what I’m looking for is in my relationship with God.’
He went on to stress that he wasn’t perfect and still ‘falls into sin a lot’, but that he was trying to be more devoted.
He continued: ‘And I don’t want to give the impression that I’m some great devotee or some great man of God who is devoted in every aspect of his life. Because I am a fool and a sinner, but I’m trying my best not to be.
‘I fall under the spells of illusion and I fall into sin a lot. But I’m intelligent enough to recognise what makes me feel truly happy and what actually ends up making me feel miserable disguised as happy.
‘I’ve had the blessing of meeting some incredible devotees who have really taken me under the wing and been really merciful upon me. And they are just the most beautiful, happy, content, smart, intelligent people.’
Previously opening up on how Hare Krishna had changed his outlook on life, Bobby explained how he had spent a lot of time searching for ‘bliss and love and knowledge and peace and contentment’
Bobby famously had a tragic start in life when his mother Jade Goody died of cervical cancer in 2009, when he was just five, and his brother Freddy was four (pictured together in 2006)
He concluded: ‘What I feel like I’m saying is that I know where happiness is and I know where happiness is not.
‘And my relationship with God is absolutely everything that I’m looking for and always have been looking for and always will be looking for. That’s where it lies and nowhere else.’
Bobby famously had a tragic start in life when his mother Jade Goody died of cervical cancer in 2009, when he was just five, and his brother Freddy was four.
Their father Jeff requested privacy for the boys while they grew up in Essex, before later spending time in Brighton, where they attended private school.
However, Bobby struggled to set in and was eventually suspended, before his model looks were noticed by a casting agent by chanvce.
Reflecting on his unhappy schooldays, Bobby said: ‘At private school, everyone comes from the same generationally rich families, but my parents didn’t.
‘I’ve got insight from both ends of the spectrum, so I felt like I was a bit of a black sheep.’
In 2023, Bobby went on to reach new levels of fame after he appeared on the twenty-first series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Dianne Buswell.
And a source close to him at the time claimed that Bobby attributes his success on Strictly to his devotion to Hare Krishna (pictured with Dianne Buswell on show)
He won scores of praise and fan support, particularly for his moving routine in memory of late mother Jade, and eventually finished runner-up to Ellie Leach.
And a source close to him at the time claimed that Bobby attributes his success on the dancing competition to his devotion to Hare Krishna.
They told The Sun newspaper’s TVBiz column: ‘Bobby’s belief in Hare Krishna has been the secret to his success while on the show, as it helps him remain calm, grounded and focused.
‘Although his image as the snake-hipped pin-up of this year’s series is in contrast to the look that we usually associate with devotees.
‘But Bobby is just one of a long line of artists who have turned to Hare Krishna for their inspiration.’
