New Delhi: South Indian actress Amala Paul has alleged that she was denied entry in the Thiruvairanikulam Mahadeva temple in Ernakulam Kerala. She said that she faced discrimination on the grounds of her religion.
The actress visited the temple on Monday when she was allegedly refused to enter the premises citing customs that allow only Hindus inside the premises. The actor claimed she then offered her prayers to the deity from the road in front of the temple.
The actress hasn’t made any public statement regarding the incident yet but according to IANS, she has shared her experience in the temple’s visitors’ book.
"Felt the spirit even though she didn't see the Goddess. It is sad and disappointing that religious discrimination still exists in 2023. I couldn't go near the Goddess but could feel the spirit from a distance. I hope there will be a change in religious discrimination soon. The time will come and we all will be treated equally and not on the basis of religion," Amala wrote in the visitors’ book according to IANS.
The temple authorities cited the existing protocol for denying entry to Amala. They stated that they were only following the temple customs.
"Many devotees of other religions have come to visit the temple, but no one knows that. However, when a celebrity comes, it becomes controversial," IANS quoted an official as saying.
Thirty-one-year-old Paul is a hugely popular actress in the South Indian film industry with successful hits in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu. Amala was last seen in The Teacher, which was released last December. The film will debut on Netflix on January 23.
Amala will next be seen in the action thriller 'Christopher' alongside Malayalam megastar Mammootty. The movie, directed by Mollywood hitmaker B. Unnikrishnan revolves around a real-life crime thriller and Tollywood actor Vinay Rai plays the villain.
Amala is cast as a character who is herself a mystery in the action thriller. Sneha is the other female lead in the movie.
(With IANS inputs)