"Both men and women should be allowed to enter the temple...This (ban on women's entry) is only a man-made rule," she said when asked about the recent controversy at Shani Shingnapur in the neighbouring Ahmednagar district where women are traditionally not allowed to enter the local Lord Shani temple.
She was speaking to reporters after visiting the Saibaba shrine here.
A woman from Pune last week managed to perform puja at the Shani temple as a protest against the age-old bar, causing an uproar following which the locals allegedly carried out a 'purification ritual' at the temple.
On the 'award-wapasi' campaign by writers across the country, Hema Malini said it was wrong to return awards which were given by the country, termed the campaign as political.