Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were turned back without visiting the famous Mahakaleshwar Temple over security worries amid protests over alleged comments made by Ranbir Kapoor, professing his love for beef, in an interview over a decade ago.
Kapoor and Bhatt, who recently married and are now expecting their first child, were promoting their upcoming movie that is set to release over the weekend.
The film’s director, Ayan Mukherji, later visited the temple with crewmembers to ‘take the blessings of Lord Shiva.’
Members of the Bajrang Dal gathered at the temple to protest against the alleged comments. They held black flags and placards and shouted slogans against the actor.
Social media posts have emerged referring to the controversy with the ‘boycott’ hashtag on Twitter, as Bollywood continues to fare miserably at the box-office.
Hindi films are sinking at the box office with 20 of the 26 new releases this year failing at the box office, according to a Reuters report.
Viewers binge-watching international shows and being spoilt for content on streaming platforms, especially during the pandemic has been a major reason for movie theatres largely remaining empty.
Add to that the fact that formulaic Bollywood films arent offering anything new to picky audiences and rehashed stories are not resonating with the masses and you have a recipe for box-office bombs.
Will Brahmastra, touted to be the most expensive film made in Bollywood so far, with a budget of Rs 410 crore, be able to turn things around. It remains to be seen.