“A serious sin, repent for your actions”: Maulana sparks row over Muslim actress’ Mahakaleshwar temple visit
Bollywood actor Nushrratt Bharuccha’s recent visit to the Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain has triggered a fresh nationwide controversy, drawing sharp reactions from religious leaders and spiritual groups alike.
The actor recently participated in the famed Bhasma Aarti at the Mahakaleshwar temple, where she performed jalabhishek on Lord Shiva and accepted prasadam, visuals of which quickly went viral on social media.
Objecting strongly to her actions, Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, said Nushrratt’s temple visit and participation in Hindu rituals were against Islamic principles and Sharia law.
He stated that offering prayers, performing rituals, and accepting prasadam at a non-Islamic religious place is considered a sin in Islam. Calling her actions “a serious religious transgression”, the Maulana said the actor should repent, seek forgiveness from Allah, and recite the Kalma.
His remarks have further intensified the controversy, leading to strong reactions from saints and spiritual leaders in Ujjain and other parts of the country. Several members of the saint community openly condemned the Maulana’s statement, asserting that India is a secular nation where every individual has the constitutional right to visit and worship at any religious place of their choice.
Saints said Nushrratt Bharuccha’s visit to the Mahakaleshwar temple was a matter of personal faith and belief, and no religious authority had the right to interfere in such personal choices. They warned that statements questioning an individual’s faith or religious freedom only promote hatred and social tension.
Urging restraint, the saints advised religious leaders to avoid making divisive comments that could disturb communal harmony. The issue has also sparked intense discussions in Bareilly and on social media platforms.
While a small section of people appeared to support the Maulana’s views from a religious standpoint, a larger number of voices defended Nushrratt, terming the issue one of personal liberty and freedom of belief.
Many argued that as a public figure who travels extensively across India and the world, visiting a temple should not be politicised or communalised. Several social commentators noted that religious leaders, regardless of faith, should exercise caution and responsibility while making public statements.
They stressed that such remarks risk polarising society rather than fostering unity and mutual respect. As the debate continues, Nushrratt Bharuccha herself has not issued any official response to the controversy. The incident has once again brought the spotlight on the delicate balance between religious beliefs, personal freedom, and India’s secular ethos.
