Anna Lezhneva, the wife of Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and popular actor Pawan Kalyan, recently undertook a spiritual visit to the sacred Tirumala temple to fulfill a vow made during a time of personal hardship. In a deeply symbolic act of gratitude, she had her head tonsured at the temple — a traditional offering made by devotees seeking divine blessings or expressing thanks.
The visit was made in the aftermath of a distressing incident involving the couple’s young son, who suffered injuries in a fire accident at his school abroad. Following his recovery and safe return home, Anna honored her earlier promise by making the pilgrimage to Tirumala, one of the most revered temples in India.
Accompanied by family members and temple security, Anna carried out the tonsuring ritual at the designated site within the temple premises.
Despite being of Russian origin and a follower of the Orthodox Christian faith, she followed all temple protocols, including signing a declaration of faith — a requirement for non-Hindu visitors entering the sanctum sanctorum.
Her visit didn’t end with the tonsure. Anna is also expected to participate in darshan the following morning and contribute to the temple’s charitable initiatives, including a donation to the “Nitya Annadanam” program, which provides free meals to thousands of devotees daily.
Her gesture, blending personal faith with reverence for Indian traditions, was met with widespread attention. Photos and videos from her temple visit quickly circulated on social media, drawing praise for her devotion and commitment to the vow she had made during a difficult time for her family.