Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela has found herself at the center of a firestorm after her comments about a temple “in her name” near Badrinath Dham in Uttarakhand went viral. The Daaku Maharaaj star’s remarks, made during an interview with Siddharth Kannan, triggered backlash from locals, priests, and social media users, prompting her team to issue a clarification on April 19, 2025, to set the record straight.
In the interview, Urvashi claimed, “There is a temple in my name in Uttarakhand. If one visits Badrinath, there is a ‘Urvashi temple’ right next to it.” She added that devotees, including Delhi University students, visit the temple and refer to her as “Damdami Mai,” even garlanding her photos.
The statements led to widespread criticism, with many accusing her of claiming ownership of the sacred Urvashi Temple in Bamni, believed to be dedicated to Goddess Urvashi, a mythological apsara tied to Lord Vishnu or Goddess Sati. Local priest Bhuwan Chandra Uniyal told India Today, “It is not her temple. Such statements are unacceptable, and the government should take strict steps.”
The backlash intensified when TV actress Rashami Desai slammed Urvashi on Instagram Stories, writing, “It’s sad that ppl don’t even take action against such nonsense… Bharat, main Hinduism is becoming a joke. Don’t play games in the name of religion.” Social media erupted, with X posts fueling a meme fest, one user joking, “Urvashi Rautela needs immediate help,” while others demanded accountability. Two religious organizations in Uttarakhand even submitted complaints to the police, seeking action for hurting religious sentiments.
On April 19, Urvashi’s team released a statement via Instagram, clarifying, “Urvashi Rautela said that there is a temple in my name in Uttarakhand, not Urvashi Rautela’s temple. People don’t even listen properly; just hearing ‘Urvashi’ or ‘temple,’ they assume that people worship Urvashi Rautela. Listen to this video properly and then speak.” The statement emphasized her Delhi University nickname “Damdami Mai,” citing a news article, and urged, “Before making baseless allegations or derogatory comments against any individual, the facts are thoroughly verified.” It also warned of legal action against those spreading misinformation.
The controversy adds to Urvashi’s history of headline-grabbing moments, from her leaked bathroom video—later revealed as a promotional stunt for Ghuspaithiya—to her tone-deaf comments on Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing incident, which led to a deleted apology. Her claim of wanting a temple in South India, referencing her work with stars like Chiranjeevi and Nandamuri Balakrishna, further fueled the debate. Despite the uproar, some fans defended her, with an X post praising her PR team’s “smart move” in highlighting the temple’s name as a coincidence.
As the dust settles, questions remain: Will Urvashi’s clarification quell the outrage, or will the controversy linger? With her next project, JNU, on the horizon, all eyes are on how she navigates this latest storm. For now, Urvashi stands firm, calling for respect and accountability in public discourse.
