Zomato ‘offensive’ ad featuring Hrithik Roshan sparks controversy leading Mahakal temple priests demand to withdraw it.
Mahakal temple’s two priests urged online food delivery company Zomato to withdraw an advertisement featuring Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan as it offends Hindu sentiments, on Saturday at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
In the ad, Roshan has been seen saying he felt like having a “thali” (food platter) in Ujjain so he ordered from “Mahakal”. Priests of the temple Mahesh and Ashish said Zomato should withdraw the advertisement immediately and tender an apology.
They alleged that devotees are served ‘prasad’ on a thali and the ad hurts the feelings of Hindus. The Mahakaleshwar or Mahakal temple of Shiva in Ujjain is one of twelve ‘Jyotirlingas’ which attract devotees from across the country.
However, zomato clarified that Mahakal Restaurant is one of their high-order volume restaurant partners in Ujjain, and thali is a recommended item on its menu.
The statement, reads, “The Hrithik Roshan, starrer ad that ran in specific pin codes of Ujjain referenced ‘thalis’ at ‘Mahakal Restaurant’, and not the revered Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple. Mahakal Restaurant is one of our high-order volume restaurant partners in Ujjain, and thali is a recommended item on its menu”.
