A viral claim that Virat Kohli was paid Rs. 5 crores to visit Premanand Maharaj’s ashram in Vrindavan has triggered a debate on social media. The allegation has raised questions about whether celebrity visits to spiritual leaders are purely personal or could also be part of a publicity strategy.
According to a News18 report, the claim was made by Dinesh Sharma, popularly known as Falahari Maharaj, who heads the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas. He reportedly alleged that a Rajasthan-based private company spent Rs. 5 crores to bring Kohli to the ashram and boost Premanand Maharaj’s popularity.
However, there is no independently verified evidence that Kohli received this money. Neither the cricketer nor his representatives have confirmed the claim.
Kohli’s association with Premanand Maharaj is well documented. He and his wife, Anushka Sharma, first visited the spiritual leader in January 2023 and have returned to the ashram on several occasions.
The controversy has sparked a wider debate about spirituality, celebrity culture and social media marketing.
A celebrity visit can generate massive publicity. Videos and photographs can attract millions of views, introduce spiritual leaders to new audiences and expand the reach of their organisations. In an age when online attention has become valuable, such visibility can have significant promotional benefits.
Some believe celebrities can help spread spiritual messages to a wider audience. Others question whether devotion is increasingly getting mixed with branding, publicity and commercial interests. The bigger question is whether these visits are purely about faith or whether the publicity they generate has become an equally important factor.
