Popular television actress Rashami Desai has sharply criticised actress Urvashi Rautela for her recent remarks about an ‘Urvashi Temple’ near Badrinath Dham, calling the statement ‘nonsensical’ and urging her not to misuse religion for publicity.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, Rashami expressed her dismay over Urvashi’s controversial claim.
“It’s sad that people don’t even take action against such nonsense… In Bharat, Hinduism is becoming a joke,” she wrote, adding, “Don’t play games in the name of religion,” alongside a broken heart and folded hands emoji.
She also criticised Urvashi for what she described as a ‘politically correct’ but evasive response, saying the actress appeared to be “talking senseless on purpose” while representing India on public platforms.
Urvashi’s Remarks Spark Local Backlash
The controversy erupted after Urvashi reportedly claimed there is a temple named after her near Badrinath, and went on to express her wish for a similar one in South India.
Her comments drew swift criticism from locals and temple priests, who said her remarks disrespected a sacred religious site.
Community leaders have called for government intervention, accusing Urvashi of hurting religious sentiments.
Urvashi’s Team Issues Clarification
In response, Urvashi Rautela’s team released a statement seeking to clarify the actress’s remarks.
“Urvashi Rautela said there is a temple in my name in Uttarakhand not that it is ‘Urvashi Rautela’s temple’. People heard only ‘Urvashi’ and ‘temple’ and jumped to conclusions,” the statement read.
They urged the public to watch the full video before reacting and called out what they described as misinterpretations and confusion.
Clarifying ‘Damdami Mai’ References
The statement also acknowledged that some students at Delhi University had previously referred to Urvashi as ‘Damdami Mai’ in past media coverage.
“Legal action should be taken against those who made confusing remarks about Urvashi Rautela’s statement,” the team asserted.
A Call For Respect And Fact-Checking
Concluding the statement, Urvashi’s team stressed the need for responsible communication, especially in the public domain.
“Before making baseless allegations or derogatory comments, it is essential that facts are thoroughly verified. Everyone deserves respect and understanding so that individual rights are preserved,” it said.
Ongoing Debate On Public Figures And Religious Sensitivity
The incident has reignited the debate on celebrities making religious claims and the responsibility of public figures to maintain sensitivity when speaking about culturally significant places.
It remains unclear whether the authorities will take legal action over the controversy.
