Haridwar, in Uttarakhand, is globally recognized as a major religious and spiritual center. Situated on the banks of the Ganges, ‘Har Ki Pauri’ is considered a paramount site of faith. However, a recent incident during a film shoot in this sacred area hurt the religious sentiments of locals and sparked a controversy. Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi had arrived in Haridwar to shoot for his upcoming film, and the activities surrounding the shoot quickly became a topic of discussion.
The root cause of the controversy was a set constructed for the filming. A temporary ‘bar’ setup was erected outside a hotel near the Har Ki Pauri area for a scene. To make the set look authentic, a signboard explicitly reading ‘Bar’ in English was installed outside the hotel. As soon as locals and pilgrims spotted the sign, they immediately began to protest. People felt that filming such a scene and publicly displaying a ‘bar’ sign in a holy city like Haridwar—where the sacred Ganga Aarti takes place and millions arrive with deep devotion—was highly objectionable.
The protest intensified, creating a tense atmosphere at the site. Locals condemned the move as being contrary to the city’s culture and decorum. Protesters questioned why regulations were not followed when obtaining filming permissions and why the filmmakers had disregarded public sentiment. They insisted that the dignity of the religious site must be respected during any filming activities.
The film unit faced significant backlash following the incident. In light of the mounting opposition and the locals’ firm stance, the controversial signboard was promptly removed. This entire episode has reignited the debate regarding the boundaries for commercial activities and film shoots at religious sites. The administration is now treating the matter seriously to ensure that no such incident—which could wound religious sentiments—recurs in the future. For now, the situation is under control, but the matter is also generating a lot of discussion on social media.
