Hema Malini's Puri Jagannath Temple Visit Sparks Controversy Over Alleged 'Illegal' Entry

Bollywood actress and BJP MP Hema Malini has found herself at the center of a controversy after a complaint was lodged against her visit to the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The complaint alleges that her entry into the temple was "illegal."

Shree Jagannath Sena, a local organization in Puri, filed a complaint at the Singhadawar Police Station, accusing Hema Malini of violating religious norms. The outfit claims that, having married actor Dharmendra under Muslim customs, her presence at the temple has hurt Hindu sentiments.

According to the complaint, Hema Malini and Dharmendra had a Nikah ceremony on August 21, 1979, officiated by Moulana Kazi Abdulah Faizabadi in Mumbai. It alleges that Dharmendra, already married to Prakash Kaur and a father of four, converted to Islam to bypass the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955. The couple reportedly took on new names—Dharmendra as Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn and Hema Malini as Ayesha Biwi R Chakravarthy—and later had two daughters, Esha and Ahana.