Bhumi posted the visuals on her Instagram account, showing herself offering water to the Shivling as part of the traditional Sawan ritual. Dressed in a black top and blue denim jeans, the actress was seen wearing dark sunglasses throughout the temple visit.

In the caption accompanying the post, Bhumi wrote that with the beginning of Sawan, she was praying not for an easier life but for the strength to live it with dignity. She concluded the message with the devotional chant, “Har Har Mahadev.”

The post soon attracted thousands of reactions, with opinions divided in the comments section.

Several followers praised the actress for visiting the temple and beginning the auspicious month with prayers. However, many others criticised her choice of wearing sunglasses during the religious ritual, arguing that she should have removed them while worshipping.

One user commented that she could have taken off the sunglasses before offering prayers, while another wrote that they had never seen anyone perform temple rituals while wearing dark glasses. Some users described the act as disrespectful, urging the actress to show greater reverence during religious ceremonies.

The criticism quickly spread across social media platforms, where screenshots of the post and comments were widely shared. Despite the backlash, many fans came to Bhumi's defence, arguing that personal attire or accessories should not become the basis for judging an individual's faith or devotion. They maintained that spirituality is a personal matter and that worship should not be evaluated solely through appearances.

As of now, Bhumi Pednekar has not publicly responded to the criticism surrounding the temple visit.

The incident once again highlights how celebrity social media posts frequently trigger public debate, particularly when they involve religious traditions or cultural practices. Public figures often find themselves under close scrutiny, with even minor details becoming subjects of widespread discussion online.

On the professional front, Bhumi Pednekar is preparing for the release of the historical epic The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In the two-part film, she portrays the courageous Queen Belawadi Mallamma, while Kantara actor Rishab Shetty plays the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Directed by Sandeep Singh, the film also features Arjun Rampal and Vivek Oberoi in prominent roles. The ambitious historical project is expected to be one of Bhumi's biggest releases in the coming months.

Before this, the actress was seen in the web series Daldal, which received attention for its crime-thriller narrative and Bhumi's performance in the lead role.