Sara Ali Khan must declare Sanatan faith, submit affidavit to visit Badrinath–Kedarnath: Temple committee chairman

Bollywood actor Sara Ali Khan is the daughter of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh. Although theirs was an interfaith marriage, the couple later got divorced, and Amrita has the custody of their kids, Sara and Ibrahim. Saif is now married to Kareena Kapoor and has two sons, Jeh and Taimur Khan.

Actor Amrita has often embraced Hindu customs and rituals. However, Sara and Ibrahim have been free to follow their own beliefs, as neither parent has forced them to follow any particular religion.

Sara Ali Khan, despite her surname and not identifying as Hindu, frequently visits religious shrines such as Kedarnath and Badrinath and performs puja. For which she has been criticised multiple times. However, temple authorities and priests have never previously stopped her from entering these shrines.

Recently, some Hindu priests have taken a stand, saying she may be required to provide proof of her faith. Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) chairman Hemant Dwivedi stated that she must sign an affidavit declaring her faith.

This comes days after a proposal to ban non-Hindus from Badrinath, Kedarnath, and 45 other temples under the committee. The chairperson said that those wishing to enter would need to furnish an affidavit affirming faith in Sanatan.

Speaking to reporters, Dwivedi said that during the upcoming Char Dham Yatra, entry of “non-Sanatanis” into 47 temples, including Badrinath and Kedarnath, may be restricted.

“This tradition has existed since the time Adi Shankaracharya established these temples. These shrines are centres of faith for lakhs of devotees. Recently, some groups have tried to disturb their sanctity, which is why this proposal was passed unanimously,” he said.

When asked specifically about Sara, he said, “If Sara Ali Khan affirms that she holds faith and devotion towards Sanatan and submits an affidavit, she will be granted darshan.” For context, Sara is the daughter of Amrita Singh, a Sikh, and Saif Ali Khan, a Muslim.

The BKTC has standardised a format for this affidavit and sent the proposal to the Uttarakhand government. This comes ahead of the Char Dham Yatra, which will begin on April 19. Over six lakh devotees have already registered. Kedarnath will open on April 22, followed by Badrinath on April 23.

Sara has not yet responded to the statement.

When Sara spoke about visiting temples

At the Times Now Summit 2025, she spoke about her spiritual connection to Kedarnath, calling it a humbling experience. She also shared how, growing up, she questioned her religious identity.

“I remember asking my mother what I am, and she said I’m Indian. My visits to Kedarnath are personal—they are not for validation. I feel peaceful and happy there,” she said.

This is not the first instance of temples restricting entry based on faith. The Jagannath Temple in Puri allows only Hindus, with strict guidelines. In October 2024, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan’s half-Russian daughter, Polena Anjana Pawanova, signed a declaration of faith at Tirupati, co-signed by him as she is a minor. His other daughter, Aadhya, did not need to sign as both her parents are Hindus.

For the unversed, Sara Ali Khan made her acting debut in 2018 with the film Kedarnath.