Actor Simran Budharup recently visited the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal in Mumbai for darshan. A video circulated on social media showing her and her mother being mishandled during the visit. “I went for darshan with my co-actors and my mother. Like most actors, we had spoken to someone beforehand to ensure a smooth darshan,” she says.

Recalling the incident, the actor adds that one of her co-stars got separated in the crowd: “He went to find the person who was escorting us, and by the time he returned, it was our turn for the darshan. As soon as I bowed down, my mother took out her phone to capture the moment. That’s when one of the karyakartas snatched her phone.”

Budharup, 27, raises the question of why taking a picture posed a problem when everyone does it every year: “The entire world takes photos with Bappa. Plus, there were no signs prohibiting photos or videos. When my mum tried to get her phone back, he pushed her.”

She continues, “At that point, I intervened and told him, ‘You can’t talk to her like that or push her, she’s a senior citizen!’ He accused me of using abusive language, which I never did. Within seconds, they began pushing me towards the gate. I just wanted to resolve the situation, not create or face any insults. But it was traumatic.”