‘Stuck in traffic for 90 mins’: Actor Jeetendra Flags Pune’s Worsening Congestion

Pune, 22nd September 2026: Veteran actor Jeetendra expressed concern over the worsening traffic congestion in Pune after he was stuck in traffic for nearly 90 minutes while visiting the city for Ganeshotsav.

Jeetendra visited the Ganpati idol of Chhatrapati Rajaram Mitra Mandal in Pune on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters after the darshan, he said he had been visiting the city for the past 15 years but had witnessed a significant deterioration in traffic conditions in recent years.

“This year, I was stuck in traffic for nearly one-and-a-half hours. Fortunately, the mandal’s volunteers helped me in time. Otherwise, I would have remained stuck on the road until 11pm,” he said.

The 85-year-old actor said he would continue visiting Pune for Ganpati darshan as long as he was able to. “As long as I have life in me, I will keep coming to Pune for darshan of Bappa at this mandal,” he said.

Speaking about the ongoing debate over DJ and loud sound levels during Ganeshotsav, Jeetendra appealed to people not to create unnecessary controversy during the festival.

Jeetendra also recalled his childhood memories of celebrating Ganeshotsav in a chawl.

“I lived in a chawl during my childhood. Every house would have a Ganpati and there was a strong sense of unity among families. Everyone knew each other. A chawl was like one big family,” he said.

He said that although he went on to become a successful actor and was now 85, the close-knit community life of his childhood was missing.

“Today, I don’t even know who lives next to me. The joy of Ganeshotsav in those days was different. Bappa has given me a lot today, but the peace of mind we had earlier is no longer the same,” he said.