Poonam Pandey – Actress Poonam Pandey has reacted to producer Ekta Kapoor’s recent remarks describing Bollywood as “Hinduphobic,” adding her views on religious identity, temple visits and demands for the Prime Minister’s resignation during ongoing protests. Kapoor’s comments, made on October 16, 2026, have drawn criticism and responses from different quarters, including political circles. In an interaction with news agency IANS, Poonam spoke about her own experiences at temples and argued that a person’s profession, public image or clothing should not determine how others view their religious beliefs.
Poonam Pandey Says People React Surprisingly to Her Temple Visits
Speaking about her personal experiences, Poonam said people sometimes appear surprised when they see her visiting a temple. According to the actress, some people judge her religious practices based on her public image and the clothes she wears.
She said that people have questioned why someone with her appearance would visit a place of worship. Recalling such reactions, Poonam told IANS, “When I go to a temple, people look at me with surprise and say, ‘She wears such clothes, she is like this. Why does she need to go to a temple?’”
Her remarks focused on the assumptions people make about an individual’s faith based on outward appearance. Poonam said religious belief should not be judged through a person’s clothing or professional choices, highlighting the difference between someone’s public persona and their personal faith.
Actress Questions Demands for the Prime Minister’s Resignation
Poonam also commented on calls for the Prime Minister to resign during protests. She criticised the repeated demands and questioned the manner in which political criticism was being expressed.
In her remarks, she said the country was increasingly becoming the subject of public mockery when people made such demands without considering the position involved. She asked why protesters were making the demand and referred to the Prime Minister as the elected head of the country.
Her comments come amid public debate surrounding the protests mentioned in the report. Poonam expressed concern about the tone of political discourse, although the report did not identify the specific protest groups she was referring to or provide further details about the demonstrations.
Poonam Calls Herself a Devout Hindu
Addressing the discussion around religious identity, Poonam described herself as a devout Hindu and said she knew the Hanuman Chalisa. She questioned why her work or public image should be linked to her religious practices.
“I am a staunch Hindu. I know the Hanuman Chalisa. Do not connect my work with my religion,” she said, according to the report.
Poonam also defended Ekta Kapoor’s right to follow her religious beliefs. She said there should be no objection if Kapoor chose to practise her faith, suggesting that people should be allowed to express their religious identity without being subjected to unnecessary criticism.
Her comments came as Kapoor faced online trolling following her description of Bollywood as “Hinduphobic.” The producer’s remarks have added to a wider conversation about the portrayal of religion, religious symbolism and cultural identity in the entertainment industry.
Ekta Kapoor Recalls Being Judged for Religious Symbols
Kapoor recently spoke about her experiences in a podcast, where she discussed wearing sacred threads around her neck and wrist and applying a tilak on her forehead. She said people sometimes looked at her strangely because of these religious symbols.
According to the report, Kapoor also recalled being called a “tantrik” by some people. She raised questions about attitudes towards Indian mythology and religious identity, describing how expressions of faith could attract unusual reactions.
Her remarks prompted debate online, with Poonam now adding her perspective to the discussion. The disagreement has centred on how religious practices are perceived and whether assumptions about a person’s beliefs are influenced by their public image.
Poonam Pandey Also Comments on Imran Khan
Apart from the controversy involving Kapoor, Poonam was asked about a reported matter concerning actor Imran Khan and an alleged direction for him to leave India by October 28. The report does not provide further details about the circumstances of the matter.
Poonam said she understood Imran Khan to be an American citizen and described him as a wonderful actor, while expressing respect for him. She also urged foreign citizens not to interfere in the country’s internal affairs.
Commenting on the protests, she said she believed many participants did not fully understand the issues behind the demonstrations. She expressed particular concern about young people being present without, in her view, having enough information about what was happening.
Poonam described the situation as unhealthy for the country. Her comments on both the protests and Kapoor’s statement have added another celebrity voice to the ongoing public discussion, though the views expressed remain her personal opinions.