India, June 13 -- At the IPL 2026 qualifier between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans earlier this month, it wasn't just the cricket that got people talking. Actor Anushka Sharma's tulsi kanthi mala quietly became the accessory everyone wanted to decode. In the days that followed, brands selling the sacred bead necklace reported a rise in searches, inquiries and sales, with many customers asking for the exact piece she wore.

"We have seen a noticeable increase in interest in Tulsi Kanthi Malas over the past few weeks," says Sanjay Dubey, founder of Vrindavan-based Tulsi Mala Store. He adds that many customers have been asking about the mala's meaning, authenticity, and benefits after seeing the actor's.

At Instagram store I...