Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma keep returning to Premanand Maharaj’s ashram; their spiritual journey explained

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's visits to Vrindavan’s Premanand Maharaj have gradually become more than a one-off celebrity appearance. Since their first reported visit in 2023, the couple has repeatedly returned to the spiritual leader’s ashram at significant moments in their lives, quietly seeking blessings and guidance. Their latest association has once again come under the spotlight after a claim surfaced that Kohli was paid Rs 5 crore to visit Premanand Maharaj. However, his spokesperson has firmly rejected the allegation, saying the cricketer’s visits are driven by faith.

Virat Kohli’s Rs 5 crore claim denied by spokesperson

The controversy began after a claim attributed to Dinesh Sharma, also known as Falahari Maharaj, circulated on social media. It alleged that Rs 5 crore was spent to facilitate Kohli’s visit to Premanand Maharaj’s Vrindavan ashram. Kohli’s spokesperson has now called the allegation “completely false, baseless and factually incorrect”.

“Mr. Virat Kohli visits Premanand Maharaj Ji purely out of his deep faith and reverence for Maharaj Ji,” the spokesperson said, while urging the media to verify information before reporting or amplifying such claims. Importantly, established reports have noted that no publicly available contract, payment record or other documentary evidence has emerged to substantiate the Rs 5 crore allegation.

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How Virat and Anushka’s spiritual journey with Premanand Maharaj began

Kohli and Anushka’s association with Premanand Maharaj dates back to January 2023, when they visited his ashram in Vrindavan with their daughter Vamika. A video from the visit showed the couple sitting with folded hands and listening to the spiritual leader’s discourse. The visit became significant because it offered a glimpse into a quieter side of the high-profile couple. Rather than arriving for a public event, they were seen seeking spiritual guidance away from the usual spotlight. Their connection continued in the years that followed.

Anushka Sharma asked about ‘Naam Jap’

During one of their visits, Anushka herself engaged with Premanand Maharaj, asking whether difficulties in life could be overcome through chanting the name of Radha. The spiritual leader answered in the affirmative and emphasised the importance of devotion and inner transformation. He told the couple, “When the Lord blesses you, getting wealth is not a blessing,” stressing that true grace involves a change in one’s inner thoughts. That exchange became one of the clearest public glimpses into the couple’s interest in spirituality. Their visits have not simply involved seeking blessings; at times, they have also included conversations about life, faith and personal wellbeing.

Why Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma keep returning to the Ashram?

Virat and Anushka's repeated visits have coincided with important moments in Kohli’s life. In May 2025, just a day after announcing his Test retirement, Kohli travelled to Vrindavan with Anushka to meet Premanand Maharaj. Hindustan Times reported that it was their third visit to the ashram, after earlier visits in January 2023 and January 2025.

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The visits continued in 2026. In February, the couple made an early-morning trip to the ashram for a private spiritual interaction and spent nearly an hour there. India Today reported that they also attended a special kirtan. In July, they returned, this time ahead of Guru Purnima. The visit came shortly after their previous spiritual trip following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2026 title victory.

Virat-Anushka's spiritual connection that has grown over time

From their first visit with Vamika in 2023 to returning during major personal and professional milestones, Kohli and Anushka’s association with Premanand Maharaj has developed into a recurring part of their public spiritual journey. And amid the latest Rs 5 crore controversy, Kohli’s team has made its position clear: according to the spokesperson, these visits are about “deep faith and reverence”, not money. For a couple accustomed to intense public scrutiny, their repeated return to Vrindavan appears to offer something very different a private space for reflection, prayer and seeking guidance away from the pressures of fame and sport.