The controversy began after a video from Deepika's family visit to the temple circulated on social media. In the clip, some users alleged that the actor was given VIP treatment by temple priests while an elderly woman standing nearby was ignored. The video quickly sparked debate, with several users questioning whether celebrities receive special privileges at religious places.

Responding to the criticism, Deepika shared a longer video on Instagram showing the sequence of events from the temple visit. In the footage, priests can be seen offering her an angavastram, flower garland and prasad, while her children receive flutes as blessings. The same video also shows the elderly woman receiving prasad, which Deepika cited as evidence that the allegations were misleading.

In her post, the actor directly referred to an influencer whose reel had criticised the incident. She claimed the controversy began after the influencer posted an edited version of the temple visit and accused both her and the temple priest of receiving undue favour.

Deepika wrote that she was sharing the complete video so that people could see the full context. She also remarked that the influencer might receive more views and followers because of the clarification, adding that the evidence was now available for everyone to judge.

The actor further said that the true essence of prasad lies not only in what is received physically but also in values such as maintaining a pure heart, giving up ego, avoiding baseless accusations and standing up for what is right. She questioned whether showing affection towards two children should be considered wrong, adding that children are often regarded as a form of Lord Krishna in Hindu tradition.

Taking a stronger stand against what she described as misinformation, Deepika appealed to influencers and content creators to exercise responsibility while posting videos related to places of worship.

She said creating sensational content for online engagement could damage the faith of people who had recently embraced spirituality. According to the actor, such posts risk misleading viewers and unnecessarily creating controversy around religious institutions.

The influencer whose post triggered the debate had alleged that temple authorities offered Deepika garlands, perfume, flutes and other honours while the elderly woman standing nearby did not initially receive similar attention. The post questioned the fairness of such treatment and criticised what it described as preferential behaviour towards celebrities.

Deepika, however, maintained that the complete video contradicted those claims and demonstrated that the elderly devotee was also offered prasad during the ceremony.

The incident has generated mixed reactions across social media. While some users supported Deepika's clarification and argued that viral clips often lack context, others continued to debate whether celebrities should receive any special treatment at religious sites. Neither the temple authorities nor the influencer had issued any additional public statement at the time of writing.

Deepika Singh rose to prominence with the Star Plus television serial Diya Aur Baati Hum, where she portrayed IPS officer Sandhya Rathi. She later appeared in television shows including Kavach: Mahashivratri, featured in the web series The Real Soulmate, and made her Bollywood debut with the 2022 film Titu Ambani. She is married to filmmaker Rohit Raj Goyal, and the couple has a son.

The episode once again highlights how short social media clips can quickly fuel controversy, with public figures increasingly choosing to release longer videos and detailed explanations to present their side of the story.

Viral video shows staff clicking photos with saree-clad visitor despite ban on photography inside Ujjain temple premises

A young man dressed as Allu Arjun’s character from the film Pushpa — complete with saree, blouse, payal, lemon garland, and bangles — walked into the Mahakal temple here for a VIP darshan, triggering a row over security lapses. The incident, which took place on February 5, came to light after videos surfaced on social media over the weekend.

The temple management has since removed a supervisor after an internal inquiry.

Viral visuals show protocol breach

In the clips circulating on Instagram and Facebook, the man is seen moving through different parts of the temple complex. A staff member escorts him to the Ganesh Mandapam, treating him like a VIP devotee. Security personnel and temple committee employees did not stop him. Instead, they posed for photographs with him.

Photography and videography are strictly prohibited inside the Mahakal temple premises. The responsibility of enforcing this ban lies with the very staff and guards who are now seen violating it.

What the video shows

The young man is dressed in a saree and blouse, with payal on his feet, a lemon garland and necklace around his neck, tops in his ears, a nose ring, and bangles on his wrists. He mimics the mannerisms of the Pushpa character in several clips.

According to sources familiar with the matter, he did not enter like an ordinary pilgrim. He was given special access, something regular devotees are not entitled to. The videos also show him filming himself inside the temple, which is not allowed for common visitors.

Social media backlash

The visuals, uploaded from an account named Ankit Astoliya on Instagram and Facebook, quickly went viral. Several other videos in the same outfit are available on that profile.

Users have criticised the temple administration for allowing such conduct. Many questioned how the man managed to enter with a full costume and accessories without being stopped at any checkpoint. Others pointed out that the staff’s willingness to take selfies with him shows a casual approach to protocol.

Official action taken

Mahakal temple administrator Pratham Kaushik confirmed that the video dates back to February 5. “After the visuals came to our notice, an inquiry was conducted. The concerned supervisor has been removed from his post,” he said.

Kaushik added that granting special permission to anyone inside the temple premises, or allowing photography and videography, goes against the established rules and decorum of the shrine.

Prior restrictions on photography

This is not the first time the Mahakal temple has faced controversy over mobile phone use. While devotees are routinely asked to deposit their phones before entering, instances of unauthorised recording have been reported earlier as well. The latest incident has once again raised questions about enforcement of existing rules.

Sources indicate that the temple trust may now review its security deployment and issue fresh guidelines to prevent such breaches in the future.