Actress Katrina Kaif visited Prayagraj on Monday and took a holy dip at the Sangam in the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela, but while at it, she was mobbed by locals. A shocking drone video from the site has now gone viral in which scores of men can be seen shoving their phones near the actress as she took a dip in the holy waters.
In the video, Katrina, along with her mother-in-law, Veena Kaushal, can be seen performing the rituals and chanting mantras as instructed by the priests and sadhus at the Sangam. She then took a dip in the holy water and sought divine blessings. But during this, hundreds of semi-naked men, who were also at Maha Kumbh to take a dip in the holy waters, surrounded her and tried recording her on their phones.
While a team of security officials tried to control the crowd, the actress paid no heed to the commotion around her, and maintained her calm as she continued to perform the rituals as instructed.
But the video sparked a massive debate online, with netizens slamming the men for mobbing her and they also opined on why VIP culture is necessary in India. "Imagine you are just trying to take a dip in a holy river and throngs of almost naked men surround you. Apna snaan and karma bhoolke chalein hai naye paap karne (sic)," a user commented under the video shared on Instagram.
"Those who cry about vip culture, that's why it exists, no civic sense at all! (sic)," another user wrote.
After taking the Holy dip in the Triveni Sangam of Maha Kumbh,
— Sunanda Roy (@SaffronSunanda) February 24, 2025
Katrina Kaif Kaushal and Raveena Tondon with her daughter engaged in the evening bhajan Sandhya by Swami Chidanand Saraswati, President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram.
Divinity in Sanatan Dharma is infinite!! pic.twitter.com/3gyNPPyn9o
During her visit to Maha Kumbh, Katrina was also seen participating in the Ganga aarti in the evening, along with Raveena Tandon and Rasha Tandon. Speaking about her experience of participating in the Maha Kumbh, the Jagga Jasoos actress later told the media, "I am very fortunate that I could come here this time. I am really happy and grateful. I met Swami Chidanand Saraswati and took his blessings. I am just starting my experience here. I like the energy, beauty, and significance of everything."