Actor Urvashi Rautela has faced widespread backlash over her recent comments regarding the existence of a temple near the Badrinath shrine. The controversy erupted following an interview in which she claimed that a temple near the holy town had been built in her name, drawing sharp criticism from locals and religious leaders. Urvashi ’s team has now issued an official clarification on the matter.

On April 19, Urvashi’s team took to Instagram to release a statement addressing her temple remarks. The clarification emphasised that Rautela never referred to the temple as her own in a possessive manner.


"Urvashi Rautela said that there is a temple in her name in Uttarakhand, not 'Urvashi Rautela’s temple'. Now, people don’t even listen properly; just hearing ‘Urvashi’ or ‘temple’, they assume that people worship Urvashi Rautela. Please listen to the video properly before forming opinions," the statement read.

The team also pointed out that Rautela is known among Delhi University students as ‘Damdami Mai’, and that there have been previous reports referring to this title.

"Urvashi said, yes, at Delhi University, she was referred to as ‘Damdami Mai’, and there’s a news article supporting this. Legal action should be taken against those who have made misleading remarks about Urvashi Rautela’s statement," the clarification added, while also warning of potential legal action against those misrepresenting her words.

In response to the online criticism, the team urged detractors to verify facts before levelling allegations. Rautela appealed for respectful discourse and accountability, stating: "It is essential that, before making baseless allegations or derogatory comments against any individual, the facts are thoroughly verified. Everyone in society should treat one another with respect and understanding, so that everyone’s rights are protected."

The issue began when Rautela claimed that a temple near Badrinath Dham had been built in her honour. She also mentioned that devotees, including students from Delhi University, visited the temple and referred to her as ‘Damdami Mai’. In a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, she shared: "Yes, because I have worked in the South, so it (the temple) should be there."

These remarks quickly drew criticism from locals and religious leaders, who deemed them inappropriate. Bhuwan Chandra Uniyal, a respected priest and former religious officer of Badrinath Dham, refuted Rautela’s claims. He clarified that the Urvashi Temple in question is an ancient shrine dedicated to Goddess Sati and is recognised as one of the 108 Shaktipeeths. He added that the temple holds deep spiritual significance for the villagers of Bamni and Pandukeshwar.

“It is not her temple. Such statements are unacceptable, and the government should take strict action against anyone making such claims,” Uniyal stated. The villagers have reportedly demanded a public apology and appropriate legal measures.