Superstar Amitabh Bachchan has reportedly bought a plot in a seven-star enclave in Ayodhya, the holy town in Uttar Pradesh where the majestic Ram temple is set to open its doors later this month.

Mumbai-based developer The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) has not disclosed the size and the value of the plot. But industry sources suggest it is around 10,000 sqft and costs Rs 14.5 crore, reported Hindustan Times.

The Sarayu, spread over 51 acres, will be formally inaugurated on January 22, the day the grand consecration ceremony of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple will be held in Ayodhya.

It is about 15 minutes away from the temple and half an hour from the airport, according to the developer. The project is expected to be completed by March 2028 and have a five-star palace hotel.

“I am looking forward to embark on this journey with The House of Abhinandan Lodha for The Sarayu in Ayodhya, a city that holds a special place in my heart. The timeless spirituality and cultural richness of Ayodhya have forged an emotional connection that transcends geographical boundaries,” Mr Bachchan said at an event.

“This is a start of a heartfelt journey into the soul of Ayodhya, where tradition and modernity seamlessly co-exist, creating an emotional tapestry that resonates with me deeply. I am looking forward to building my home in the global spiritual capital,” the report quoted him as saying.

His birthplace Prayagraj (earlier Allahabad) is a four-hour drive from Ayodhya.

Abhinandan Lodha, chairman of HoABL, said BigB was the “first citizen” of The Sarayu and his investment will turn the project into a “symbol of Ayodhya’s global spiritual significance”.

He said the superstar’s investment in the Ayodhya project “reflects confidence in the city’s economic potential and deep appreciation for its spiritual heritage.”

In the midst of assertions from opposing factions that the four Shankaracharyas are contemplating skipping the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Swami Nischalanand Saraswati Maharaj, the Shankaracharya of Puri, disclosed that their decision is rooted in the deviation from established traditions during the installation of the Ram Lalla idol.

Speaking to ANI, Swami Nischalanand Maharaj revealed why the four Shankaracharyas are not attending the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha event.

“The Shankaracharyas uphold their own dignity. This is not about ego. Are we expected to merely sit outside and applaud when the Prime Minister installs the idol of Ram Lalla? The presence of a ‘secular’ government does not imply the obliteration of tradition,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, there has been a lot of hue and cry in the opposition over the four Shankaracharyas reportedlys skipping the event.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, have claimed that the Shankaracharyas have decided against attending the January 22 event after objecting to the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at an ‘incomplete temple’.

Turning down the invite for the Pran Pratishtha event, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said that even our Shankaracharyas (religious guru) will not be attending the Ram Mandir event which shows that the reason for not attending it is important.

“When they politicised the event and took decisions, our Shankaracharyas, who are at the top of Sanatan Dharma and guide us, said that they will not be attending the event. This has become such an issue that all Shankarachariyas are saying they will boycott this event. If the Shankaracharyas are saying so, it has its own importance,” Gehlot said.

Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that BJP is trying to separate two-thirds of the country’s population from Lord Ram by putting a political tag on the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Temple.

“There is a system and set of rituals to perform Pran Pratishtha. If this event is religious, then is it happening under the guidance of the Shankaracharyas of the four Peeths? All four Shankaracharyas have said clearly that the Pran Pratishtha of an incomplete temple cannot be done. If this event is not religious, then it is political,” he said.

Preparations are in full swing for the grand inauguration of the temple, anticipated to attract dignitaries and individuals from various backgrounds. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has set noon on January 22 as the moment to install the idol of Ram Lalla in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple. The Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya are scheduled to commence on January 16, one week prior to the main ceremony.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Agastya Nanda, who marked his debut last month in Zoya Akhtar’s coming-of-age period film The Archies, revealed that he remained unaware of his grandfather Amitabh Bachchan’s immense fame for several years. Speaking in an interview, Agastya recalled realising the extent of his nanu’s popularity when the megastar visited his school in Delhi.

Agastya reflected on his family dynamics, emphasising their tendency not to bring work home. He noted that his grandfather, whom he fondly refers to as “nana,” never discussed his professional life within the family setting. Agastya considered this normal and perceived his grandfather simply as a regular granddad. However, his realisation of his grandfather’s celebrity status occurred during a school event in Delhi when the megastar attended the annual day. Witnessing the overwhelming reaction of the crowd, Agastya grasped the significance of his grandfather’s stature. Subsequently, as he delved into watching films, Agastya acknowledged his grandfather’s talent in the cinematic realm.

After the release of The Archies last month, Amitabh Bachchan continued his tradition of meeting fans every Sunday. Accompanying him on this occasion was Agastya, as revealed in several photos shared on Amitabh’s official blog. The pictures captured Bachchan and Agastya interacting with well-wishers outside his Juhu residence, Jalsa.

“The interest is ever more loved than the Capital… And the legacy lives on… Father to son to son to son and then grandson… and the principal ever the reality of the base that built it,” wrote the 81-year-old actor on his blog. Agastya is the son of Amitabh Bachchan’s daughter, Shweta Bachchan, and Nikhil Nanda.