Bollywood actor Urvashi Rautela has found herself at the centre of controversy yet again after a remark made in a recent interview about a temple near Badrinath. During the interview with Siddharth Kannan, she claimed there is a temple specifically dedicated to her near the reveredHimalayan shrine Badrinath an assumption that has ever since evoked outrage throughout Uttarakhand.

During an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Urvashi said, “There is a temple in my name in Uttarakhand. If one visits Badrinath, there is a ‘Urvashi temple’ right next to it.” When asked if people visit the temple for blessings, she replied, “Ab mandir hai toh woh hi toh karenge (It’s a temple, they will do that only).”

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Speaking of the shrine, she said, “I am being serious about it. It is true. There are news articles about the same too. You can read them.” She further added that students from Delhi University often visit the temple and “even garland her pictures, calling her ‘Damdamamai’.”

The temple, Rautela referred to, is located in Bamni village near Badrinath and is traditionally believed to be dedicated to Goddess Urvashi, a celestial figure from Hindu mythology. Locals and religious leaders were quick to react, emphasizing that the temple has no connection to the actress.

Former Badrinath religious officer and priest Bhuwan Chandra Uniyal strongly opposed Rautela’s claim. “It is not her temple. Such statements are unacceptable, and the government should take strict steps against anyone making such claims,” he said.

Uniyal also explained the site's historical importance, that the Urvashi Temple is connected with ancient legends surrounding Goddess Sati and is one of the holy 108 Shaktipeeths. It is worshipped by residents of Bamni and Pandukeshwar villages and has been a part of local devotion for generations.

Amit Sati, President of the Brahma Kapal Teerth Purohit Society, echoed the sentiment. He condemned Rautela’s remarks, noting that “Such statements disrespect the religious sentiments of the people here.” According to him, the temple has deep-rooted spiritual significance, and associating it with any celebrity is not only inaccurate but also hurtful to the beliefs of the local community.

Local resident Ramnarayan Bhandari along with others in the community voiced their frustration about what they consider to be a misguided attempt at self-publicizing. According to his statements, these sacred sites should stay free from personification or celebrity endorsements because it breaks their true significance.

The interview video circulated throughout the internet which caused widespread condemnation from viewers and triggered both criticism and humorous reactions alongside demands for responsibility. Some members of society wanted the actress to issue a formal apology yet other people advocated for authorities to take action against the wrong portrayal of sacred locations.

Interestingly, in the same interview, Rautela hinted at wanting a temple in her name in South India. When asked, “So, you want a temple in the South?”, the actor responded, “Yes, because I have worked in the South, so it (temple) should be there.”

As of now, Rautela has not issued any clarification regarding her comments. The incident underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity and the potential fallout when celebrities comment on religious heritage without context.