If actor Sara Ali Khan submits an affidavit declaring her faith in Sanatan, she will be granted entry to the Badrinath and Kedarnath temple complexes, BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference in Dehradun, Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) chairman said, "Those (non-Hindus) who have faith in Sanatan Dharma-and who provide a written declaration stating, 'I am a Sanatani; I believe in Hindutva'-are all welcome." A few days ago, the BKTC had unanimously approved a proposal to ban the entry of non-Sanatanis into the Badrinath and Kedarnath temple complexes.
When Hemant was specifically asked about the actress, who has visited the shrine multiple times and even did a film Kedarnath (2018), he remarked, "If Sara Ali Khan affirms that she holds faith and devotion towards Sanatan, and subsequently submits an affidavit to that effect, she will be granted darshan." He further informed that the BKTC has already drafted a standardised format for this affidavit.
It is noteworthy that during a meeting of the committee's board on March 10, a proposal to prohibit the entry of non-Sanatanis into the temple complexes and garbhagrihas (sanctum sanctorums) of Badrinath and Kedarnath was unanimously approved.
Hemant stated that this proposal has since been forwarded to the Uttarakhand government.
Although most in the film industry remained mum on the issue, Raees (2017) and Agni (2024) director Rahul Dholakia condemned the developments. “WTF !! Why are u distancing people ? And who gives u the right to “allow” people ? Or is this just ridiculous plot point for another OMG ??” he wrote on X.
