‘Brahmastra’ director Ayan Mukerji admits he ‘felt bad’ about what happened at Ujjain temple; says ‘Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were keen to come with me’ – Times of India ►

According to the police, the couple was supposed to join director Ayan Mukerji to offer prayers at the temple on Tuesday, ahead of the release of their film ‘Brahmastra’. On being informed about the celebrity couple’s arrival, the temple committee along with the district administration and the police had reportedly made elaborate security arrangements.

However, the members of the political party opposed the actors’ entry based on an alleged remark made by Ranbir in 2011 over the beef issue. A video of the incident surfaced on social media sparking off a debate online.

Speaking up about the incident, Ayan said at a promotional event in Delhi, that although he didn’t want to bring Alia along owing to her pregnancy, the actress and her husband were keen to join him for the darshan.

Sharing his hurt over the incident that unfolded at the place of worship, he said, “I was feeling bad that Ranbir and Alia could not come with me for Darshan to Mahakaleshwar temple. I had gone to Mahakaleshwar temple before my motion poster was released. And, I told to myself that I will definitely come here before the release of my film.”

“Both (Ranbir and Alia) of them were keen to come with me. But, when we reached there and heard about this. I felt bad about what happened there. And, then I told Ranbir and Alia to let me go alone. I went there to seek blessings and energy for the film,” he added.

The director also said that he wasn’t too keen to have Alia tagging along. He said, “I just didn’t want to take Alia there in her current condition. So, I felt very bad going there alone. And, (after visiting the temple) honestly I felt that they could have also come.”

A police official in Ujjain said that the star couple had to return from the temple without offering prayers owing to the protests that broke out.

Meanwhile, the police detained one of the protesters after he got into a physical altercation with an officer on duty.

“We won’t allow Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt into the temple over the liking for beef remark. We’ll protest in big manner against local administration and police over the assault on our worker,” Bajrang Dal leader Ankit Chaube had said.

As per informed sources, Ranbir and Alia stayed at Ujjain district collector Ashish Singh’s official residence before returning to Indore.

They added that the collector is a friend of Ayan Mukerji, the film’s director

‘Brahmastra’, that also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy, Nagarjuna, is set to hit the big screen on September 9.