Heavy security upsets villagers

PATAUDI: Julia Roberts may have brought fame for the otherwise serene and isolated Ashram in Pataudi but the Hollywood actor's momentary stay here is also accompanied by many restrictions for the villagers.
Heavy security arrangements and restricted entry into the Ashram where she along with co-star Richard Jenkins is shooting for her film, `Eat, Pray, Love', has left residents around the area upset."They are allowing entry in the temple only between 6am and 8am in the morning and 6pm and 9pm in the evening,'' said Renu Singh, who lives close to the Ashram in Amarpri, Pataudi, 30 km from Gurgaon. There were no such restrictions earlier. "I went to the temple this morning but was turned away by security guards. It is really bad that even devotees are being barred from entering the Ashram,'' said a middle-aged woman.
According to sources, as many as 350 guards have been hired to provide security cover to the `pretty woman' who will stay in Pataudi till October 6. Locals said that the star's presence has also brought large number of armed policemen and bouncers to the venue. "It seems that entire Ashram and the Pataudi palace, where the actress is staying with her children and nannies along with cast and crew of the film, have been booked,'' said Ramesh Yadav, who owns a shop outside the Ashram.
Residents alleged that on Monday when an outdoor scene involving the actor was being shot just outside the Ashram, people living in nearby houses claimed they were put under "house arrested''. "They asked us not to move out of our homes till the time shooting was done. Even the women who stood on the roofs of their homes were sent inside,'' said Tejpal, whose house faces Ashram.
However, Swami Dharam Dev, head of the Ashram, termed all this as part of the `VIP security'. "Are not common people hassled whenever there is a VIP movement? We should not make fuss over it and be nice and polite to the entire crew as they are our guests,'' he said.