Bobby Brazier Explores Spiritual Journey in India with Hare Krishna Dance, Dad Jeff Jokes About His Moves

Bobby Brazier has shared a glimpse at his spritual journey after ditching the world of showbiz to pursue a new life in India.

The EastEnders star, 22, has spent the summer immersing himself in the Hare Krishna religion after leaving the BBC soap earlier this year, having turned to the faith after a period of strained relations with his father Jeff and brother Freddie.

While Bobby seems to have patched things up with his father, he has taken to Instagram to show the positive impact his pilgrimage has had on him, posting a video of himself and hundreds of worshippers performing a traditional dance.

In the clip, Bobby was joined by monks Indradyumna Swami and Sacinandana Swami for the uplifting group dance.

Reflecting on his spiritual journey so far, Bobby admitted that while it has been ‘amazing’ to discover more about Hare Krishna, he hasn’t quit the showbiz world entirely, and hopes to return to acting in the future. 

And while the star previously impressed viewers with his skills on Strictly Come Dancing, his dad Jeff was quick to poke fun at his moves with a cheeky comment.

He captioned the post: ‘Watching these videos back and still after all I’ve experienced so far in the world, I’m thinking surely it doesn’t get any better than this… surely?! @indradyumnaswami has been chanting for over 50 years and says that it just gets better.

‘This is the pleasure that the soul is running after. To chant and dance in the association of devotees like @sacinandanaswamiofficial who have such a deep, loving devotion toward the Lord, who is non-different from his name, is an experience that the material world just doesn’t offer. 

‘I have no real devotion but by the mercy of the holy name and those great souls who do, I get to experience a little taste of their love of God and pray that this impression won’t leave me. Man it’s so amazing.

‘Don’t worry back on the telly soon… if anyone gives me a job.’

Bobby’s dad Jeff shared a humourous comment in response to his son’s moves, writing: ‘I used to dance like that to garage.’ 

The Daily Mail previously revealed that Bobby turned to the organisation – which follows a branch of the Hindu faith – after relations became strained between him, his brother Freddy and their father Jeff.

And since the family put their feud to bed, Bobby is planning to make the move soon after he leaves the BBC soap 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. 

‘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.’

Bobby shared his love for the religion on Instagram with a slew of posts, writing: ‘Chanting Hare Krsna mantra is so good my heart’. 

Sources previously shared that for a time relations between Jeff and his son became so difficult, 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.’

While living in Soho, Bobby immersed 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.

And those close to him insisted 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.’ 

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’.

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.’

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.

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.’