Rakul Preet steps out of safari vehicle, video sparks row. Gir officials react
A viral video of actor Rakul Preet Singh stepping out of a safari vehicle at Gir National Park raised questions over wildlife norms. However, park officials have now clarified that no rule was broken.
Officials at Gir National Park have clarified that actor Rakul Preet Singh did not violate wildlife rules during her recent visit, after a video of her walking near a safari vehicle went viral online. They said the clip was shot outside the entry point of the Sasan Sanctuary and not inside the restricted sanctuary zone.
The clarification came after the video led to speculation on social media over whether wildlife rules had been broken, as visitors are not allowed to step out of their vehicles inside protected forest areas. Officials said Rakul never entered the protected area and that no rules were violated.
Clarification on the viral video
In their statement, the park authorities said, “We clarified that the video is from outside the entry point of the Sasan Sanctuary. Every sanctuary has a designated entry point for visitors entering the protected area. The viral video was shot outside that point. Therefore, we clarified that the incident did not take place inside the restricted zone."
Officials also explained the rules followed inside the sanctuary and why, according to them, no violation took place in this case. They said, “As per the rules, once inside the sanctuary, no one is allowed to step out of their safari vehicle.” They added that Rakul was seen outside the entry point area and later left the spot.
According to the officials, Rakul had arrived with the team of her upcoming film Pati Patni Aur Woh Do for a planned sanctuary visit, but faced a medical issue before entering. “Due to this, her team took her back, and she did not enter the sanctuary premises,” they said. Reiterating their stand, the officials added, “Our restricted zone begins only after the sanctuary entry point. No rules were violated. We have already clarified this through our official Twitter handle.”
About Pati Patni Aur Woh Do
The actor's visit to Gir came ahead of the release of Pati Patni Aur Woh Do. The film also stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan and Wamiqa Gabbi. It is a sequel to the 2019 film Pati Patni Aur Woh, which featured Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar and Ananya Panday, and continues a story legacy that dates back to 1978.
Amid discussion around the film after its trailer launch, Ayushmann responded to criticism that it promotes infidelity. He said the film does not endorse it and described the project as a family entertainer built around comedy and situational humour. “We are not promoting infidelity because it’s a family film. Everyone will enjoy watching this film; it’s a comedy of errors,” he said.
Pati Patni Aur Wo Do is set to release on May 15.