Munish Sood
MANDI:
In a heartfelt blend of homecoming and celebration, Bollywood actor Yami Gautam, a proud daughter of Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh, returned to the sacred Shri Naina Devi Temple with her husband and filmmaker Aditya Dhar to offer prayers following the massive success of ‘Dhurandhar’.
Accompanied by Dhar’s mother Anjali Gautam and family members Anoop, Sachin and Mohit Gautam, the couple performed traditional rituals, including Kanjak Puja, at the revered Shaktipeeth located in Yami’s home district. For local devotees, the visit felt both personal and symbolic as a celebrated actress reconnected with her roots while her husband marked one of the biggest achievements of his filmmaking career.
Dhar, visibly moved, shared a message after the visit:
“’Bahot sundar anubhav tha… Mata ke darshan jab bhi hote hain, dil bhar aata hai… bahot dhanyawaad It was a beautiful experience. Mata’s darshan always fills the heart with joy’ (was such a wonderful visit).”
Daughter of Himachal celebrates, director triumphs
While ‘Dhurandhar’ — Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna in main rile — has taken the national box office by storm, Yami’s visit to her hometown temple added a deeply emotional dimension to the celebration.
For people of Bilaspur, seeing Yami walk through the temple premises not as a star but as their own child, now visiting with her husband after a historic film triumph, was a moment of pride.
‘Dhurandhar’ continues Its dream run
The spy thriller — also featuring Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi and others — has captivated audiences with its gripping narrative of an undercover agent infiltrating Pakistan’s underworld.
Its box-office numbers reflect its growing momentum:
• ₹28 crore on opening day
• ₹32 crore on Saturday
• ₹43 crore on Sunday
• ₹23.25 crore on Monday
• ₹27 crore on Tuesday
• ₹26.50 crore on Wednesday
Six-day total: ₹180 crore
Bollywood’s biggest names — including Akshay Kumar, Siddharth Anand, and Madhur Bhandarkar — have hailed the film as “explosive,” “intoxicating,” and unforgettable. A sequel has already been confirmed for March 19, 2026
