Popular actress Sreeleela's spiritual visit to the sacred Tirumala Venkateswara Temple took an unexpected turn when she was mobbed by enthusiastic fans. The incident occurred on Tuesday, the auspicious occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi, when the actress arrived to seek blessings alongside her grandmother and mother.
Chaos Erupts During Temple Visit
Sreeleela, accompanied by her ammamma (grandmother) and her mother, Dr. Swarnalatha, found herself at the center of a crowded scene. A large gathering of devotees and fans quickly recognized the star, leading to a chaotic situation as people surged forward to catch a glimpse and take pictures.
Videos from the temple premises showed the actress holding her grandmother protectively close while security personnel attempted to clear a path through the crowd. In one clip, shared on a Tirupati-focused Instagram account, guards can be heard urgently asking the crowd to move aside. Amidst the commotion, Sreeleela was heard cautioning her grandmother in Telugu, "Ammamma kindana chusko", which translates to "Be careful about where you're stepping."
Another video depicted a more serene moment, with Sreeleela and her mother patiently waiting in the queue for their darshan of the deity, highlighting the contrast between devotion and fan frenzy.
A Day of Celebrity Devotees at Tirupati
Sreeleela was not the only notable figure to visit the hill shrine on Vaikunta Ekadasi. The temple witnessed a steady stream of celebrities and dignitaries throughout the day. Other prominent visitors included:
- Surekha, Sushmita, and Sreeja (wife and daughters of actor Chiranjeevi)
- Actor Rajendra Prasad
- Actor-politician Nara Rohit
- Actor Sivaji
- Cricketer Surya Kumar Yadav
- Actress and politician Roja
- Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy
This highlights the significance of the festival, which draws devotees from all walks of life to Tirumala.
Sreeleela's Rising Star in Indian Cinema
The attention Sreeleela received underscores her rapidly growing popularity. The actress made her debut in 2019 with the Kannada films 'Kiss' and 'Bharaate'. She successfully entered Telugu cinema as the lead in 'Pelli SandaD'.
Her career trajectory continues to soar. In 2024, she featured in the special song 'Kissi' for the blockbuster 'Pushpa 2: The Rule', starring Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna. Looking ahead, she has several high-profile projects lined up:
- She is set to make her Tamil debut with Sivakarthikeyan in 'Parasakthi'.
- She will star in an untitled Bollywood film with Kartik Aaryan.
- She is also scheduled to appear in 'Ustaad Bhagat Singh' alongside power star Pawan Kalyan.
The incident at Tirumala, while disruptive, is a testament to her widespread fan following across South Indian cinema and her burgeoning pan-India appeal.
