JAHAAN JAHAAN BADE SE BADE SITAARO KO HAATH JODNA PADTA HAI, PAER PADNA PADTA HAI AUR MAATHA TEKNA PADTA HAI... BY ALI PETER JOHN

I wonder how people some say that they don't believe in God, especially people in this good, bad, sad and mad world of films and especially in Bollywood. The conditions and circumstances in this world are so unpredictable and the percentage of failures are very so high - Ali Peter John

It is the fear of failures that drives men and women and even their children to different kinds of gods, shrines and temples to plead with their gods to bless them with success.

Visiting holy places has almost become a way and part of life in this world. There are thousands of holy places all over the country, but there are some holy places which are more popular and are supposed to be more powerful when it comes to working miracles and wonders.

And some of the biggest stars keep visiting these holy places even if they have their own temples and shrines in their own homes.....

Like Amitabh Bachchan has a temple in all his four bungalows in Juhu, but he and his family visit the Sidhivinayak temple in Mumbai and at times the the Golden temple at Amritsar and even the Venkateshwar temple in Tirupati.

Jeetendra and his family were from a traditional Punjabi family, but when Jeetendra met with unprecedented success in the south, he was attracted to the solemnity and miracles worked in the shrines of the Balaji temple in Tirupati, his life changed and he began producing films under the Balaji and Tirupati banner.

And years later his daughter Ekta Kapoor and his wife Shobha founded their own empire of TV serials and now OTT and webseries, all made under the banner of Balaji Telefilms. Jeetendra has always been a follower of Lord Ganpati and has brass, silver and even gold idols of Lord Ganesh in his house which is called ‘Krishna'.

And he makes it a point to have a one day festival in honour of Ganpati at his humble Ram Chandra Chawl in Girgaon from where he started his career more than sixty years ago.

No one really knows what religion Shivaji Tao Gaikwad followed when he was in Kolhapur, but once he made it very very big, he became a follower of Raghavendra Swami and then regularly visited the temple of Bhagwan Satta Saibaba and regularly visited the shrine of Lord Venkateshwar in Tirupati.

He also goes on an annual visit to the Sabrimalai and when he needs to run away from all the shor sharaba, he even goes up to Himalaya to find peace.

Lata Mangeskar often visited the Siddhivinayak temple which is just a few kilometers away from her house in ‘Prabhukunj'.

She also found time to pray at the Mangeshi temple in Goa, Mangeshi is said to be the deity of the Mangeskar family. Incidentally, Lataji has sung hymns in praise of gods and goddesses of every religion.

Ajay Devgn's father, the stunt director Viru Devgn used to pray at the St Michael's church in Mahim in Mumbai for the success of his son's, Ajay and look at his prayers have been answered.

Ajay's wife, Kajol is not a very religious type, but she offers prayers and food for the poor at the annual puja celebrated by Bengalis, who have settled down in Mumbai. Ajay visits the Siddhivinayak temple, the Golden temple and the Shakumbari temple.

This year, Ajay observed all the rituals of the Sabrimalai temple and even walked on foot to the temple for the success of his new film “Runaway 34".

But did the God of Sabrimalai answer his prayers? The box office collections of the film and its inability to come anywhere near the collection of “RRR" and “KGF-2" will provide you with the answer.

Shah Rukh Khan has usually been seen with his family at the Ajmer Dargah and he is basically a man who believes in every religion and can speak about the Quran and the Geeta and even the Bible with effortless ease. He always says that this is the training he has received from both his parents and he hopes to paas on the same legacy to his children.

Salman Khan studied in a convent school and a college founded by Christians and Christianity has a strong impact on his life. When he was in school and was missing from class, he was always found behind the Mt. Mary's church. But, he too visits the Ajmer Dargah at least once a year.

Deepika Padukone is a regular visitor at the Siddhivinayak temple, especially on the eve of the release of any of her film. She also visits the Venkateshwar temple in Tirupati and The Golden temple.

Katrina Kaif has a Christian mother and a Muslim father, which is why perhaps she visits the Ajmer Sharif Dargah and the Mt Marry church in Mumbai. And now that she is married to Vicky Kuashal a Punjabi, it will have to be seen what her religious leanings will be.

Priyanka Chopra is now based in New York, but she has not lost her roots and whenever she is in Mumbai, she visits the Siddhivinayak temple and a small temple in a suburb called Andheri which is not far away from her house in Mumbai.

And sometimes I see Rakhi Sawant rushing in and out of a church in Four bungalows in Mumbai. What must be she praying for when she is in so much of a rush and has no time for God?

At one time, there were several top female stars who used to visit churches and mosques after wearing burqas and attending religious ceremonies only after midnight.

The stars of the new generation are not showing such a strong inclination towards anything spiritual or godly. The fact that Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor took only four pheras instead of the usual seven pheras is proof that things are changing. And I will not be surprised in the least if the stars and starlets soon call out to god and say,“ Hi, bro, I have no time, you know but bro please understand, I am a star, you know bro".

SHRADDHA HAMARE ZAMANE MEI KYA THI, AUR AAJ LAGTA HAI SHRADDHA SIRF SHAKTI KAPOOR KI BETI KA NAAM HAI.