HINDUSTAN TIMES (March 18, 2020)

Bollywood actor Sara Ali Khan’s much publicised visit to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, has drawn the ire of local pandits. The actor was in Varanasi for the shooting of Atrangi Re when she visited the Kashi Vishwanath temple and participated in the Ganga aarti on Sunday. Her mother, actor Amrita Singh was with her.

The Kashi Vikas Samiti has now raised objections to the actor’s visit on the grounds that Khan is a non-Hindu. Chandra Shekhar Kapoor, the secretary of the Samiti, said, “The actor’s visit to the temple is against traditions and established norms. It also raises questions on the security of the temple when there is a sign board clearly stating that the entry of ‘non-Hindus’ is prohibited.”

He said some priests had violated norms because they had perhaps got “a handsome dakshina” and free publicity. Khan’s visit was highly publicised because the actor herself uploaded a video on her social media account in which she gave her fans a tour of the ‘Banaras ki gali’ leading up to the temple and is seen showing the various shops along the lane. The Kashi Vikas Samiti has now demanded a probe into the actor’s visit and action against those responsible.

Local pandits and seers are also upset over Khan attending the Ganga aarti and entering the Kashi Vishwanath temple. “Though we appreciate her interest in the Hindu religion but the fact remains that she is a Muslim and should not have participated in the rituals. For her, all this could be ‘interesting and exciting’ but for us, it is a matter of religious piety,” said Rakesh Mishra, a priest. He added that Khan would be known by the religion of her father, Saif Ali Khan, who is a Muslim.

Another priest Amarnath Bajpai, however, defended the actor and said that she was accompanied by her mother, Amrita Singh, who is a devout Hindu. A local tour operator Siddhu Tiwari, said that it was the behaviour of some ‘close-minded people’ who were raising objections on the issue. “Anyone can visit a temple if they believe in the deity. The ‘Ganga aarti’ is attended by thousands of foreigners who are non-Hindus. People are only looking for publicity by making an issue out of this,” he said.

We tried to contact Khan for a response, but she remained unavailable for a comment.

Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; May 12, 2014)

With Narendra Modi contesting elections from Varanasi, the holy city has becomea hotbed for political activity. No wonder then, actor Tiger Shroff, who flew down to the city on Saturday to promote his upcoming film, Heropanti, has been witness to a different kind of frenzy.

The actor says, “I was overwhelmed by the buzz in the city. I went to the Tulsi ghat where tourists come to catch the sunrise. I even practised martial arts there. It was great to see sadhus and cops recognise me,” he says.

The actor then went to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in order to seek blessings of Lord Shiva. “I am a spiritual person and a Shiva devotee, so I had to visit the temple.”