Muslim cleric labels Nushrratt Bharuccha’s Mahakal Temple visit a ‘Grave Sin’, sparks debate

nurshraat baruccha

• Nushrratt Bharuccha visited Mahakaleshwar Temple, joining Bhasma Aarti rituals
• Maulana Razvi criticized her temple visit, citing conflict with Islamic teachings.
• Incident ignites online debate on religious freedom and personal faith choices

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Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha recently found herself at the centre of an unexpected controversy after visiting the Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, ahead of the New Year 2026. The actress joined the Bhasma Aarti ritual at the famed temple, offered prayers, poured water at the deity’s shrine and received a stole from temple priests in a spiritual gesture meant to seek blessings for the coming year. Her visit was widely shared on social media and expressed warmly by fans and followers who saw it as a gesture of personal faith and peace.

However, not everyone welcomed her actions. Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, criticised Bharuccha’s temple visit as being against Islamic teachings. According to him, her participation in Hindu religious rituals — including offering water and performing puja — is “against Islam” and a violation of Sharia law. He described it as a “grave sin” and urged that she should repent, recite kalma and seek forgiveness, framing the act as contrary to fundamental Islamic principles.

#WATCH | Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh: On Nusrat Bharucha's visit to Mahakal Temple, National President, All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi says, "... Nusrat Bharucha visited the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, where she performed puja rituals. According to Sharia,… pic.twitter.com/EpAfc0gaM4

— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2025

The Maulana asserted that such practices are not permitted under his interpretation of Sharia, and he appealed to the Muslim community to adhere strictly to their faith while expressing disapproval of any engagement in other religions’ rituals. His comments have triggered a broader conversation online about religious freedom, personal choice, and faith tolerance.

Nushrratt Bharuccha has previously spoken openly about spirituality and finding peace in diverse places of worship, emphasising that she believes in the unity of a single divine force and seeks peace wherever she finds it — be it a temple, mosque, church, or gurudwara.

Her temple visit comes at a time when many Bollywood actors and the public alike are visiting places of worship to seek blessings for the new year, making it part of a larger trend of spiritual outreach. The actress’s upcoming project includes the film Bun Tikki, scheduled for release in 2026.