It has become common these days for even casual or humorous remarks made by actors during promotions to turn controversial. Recently, actress Shivani Nagaram found herself at the center of a major debate after her comments about her Tirumala darshan went viral. As the issue escalated, she released a video to clarify her statement.
Young heroine Shivani Nagaram, who rose to fame with films like Ambajipeta Marriage Band, Little Hearts, and Hey Balwanth, has been enjoying a successful career with back-to-back fiims. However, she recently became involved in an unexpected controversy.
During a podcast interview as part of the promotions for Hey Balwant, Shivani mentioned that she had the good fortune of having nearly “15 minutes of darshan” at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. The comment quickly went viral on social media. Many netizens began questioning whether special darshan privileges were being offered to actresses. Some even directed their criticism toward TTD, expressing dissatisfaction over the alleged preferential treatment.
As the criticism intensified, Shivani released a video to set the record straight. She explained that she had recently given a podcast interview to a private YouTube channel where she spoke about her childhood journey, career success, devotional beliefs, and spiritual experiences. In that context, she mentioned her Tirupati visit. However, the phrase “15-minute darshan” was highlighted and misunderstood.
According to Shivani, in October 2025, she visited Tirumala with her mother. They stood in the regular queue and purchased a Srivani Darshan ticket worth ₹10,500 by submitting their Aadhaar cards, following the standard procedure. She clarified that she did not receive any special privileges.
She explained, “When I said 15 minutes, I meant the overall experience—from the point where the line slowly moves forward and you begin to catch glimpses of the deity, until you finally reach close to the sanctum. I estimated the entire experience to be around 15 minutes. I did not mean that I was allowed to stand untouched in front of the deity for 15 minutes.”
Shivani also recalled a previous visit after entering the film industry. At that time, she had taken a ₹300 Sarva Darshan ticket and went with her family, during which she could see the deity for only five or six seconds. This time, after nearly 13 years, she felt blessed to have a closer and more fulfilling darshan. She said she shared her happiness and excitement genuinely, but her words were misinterpreted.
She further stated, “Not just me—anyone who purchases a Srivani Darshan ticket can experience a close and peaceful darshan. You too will feel the same happiness. I am giving this clarification responsibly.”
To support her explanation, Shivani also displayed her darshan ticket in the video as proof.
