Cinema VinesAishwarya Lekshmi, the Malayalam actress known for her roles in Maaman and Thug Life, found herself the target of an online backlash after a clip from a recent interview resurfaced. The interview, conducted by Galatta Plus in June, was meant to promote her latest film, Gatta Kusthi 2, but the actress veered off topic to praise fellow actress‑politician Kangana Rana Rana.
During the conversation, Lekshmi described herself as a “big fan” of Rana Rana, calling the star a “mad genius” and lauding her parliamentary speeches. She said, “I love how she has taught herself to talk well and be a good orator. I love the speeches she gives in Parliament. I’m a big fan of hers, anyways.” The clip quickly spread across social media, sparking a wave of criticism from users on X (formerly Twitter).
Comments ranged from bewildered disbelief—“Wth. Why are these people…why whyyyyy”—to outright disdain, with one user writing, “What a disappointment Aishwarya Lekshmi has been lately!” Another posted, “I like aishwarya lekshmi varathan & mayanadthi version but not current version,” suggesting a perceived shift in the actress’s persona. Some speculated that Lekshmi might be attempting to emulate Rana Rana’s style, while others questioned the appropriateness of her praise.
In response, fans of Rana Rana rallied to defend the actress, arguing that there was nothing wrong with admiring a fellow performer. One X user noted, “Her first movies were really so good,” while another added, “She obviously genius, one of best mind in Bollywood actress no doubt.” A supporter also pointed out, “Tbh what is the issue? Aishwarya is only talking about that lady's speech right not her political view,” and another cautioned, “It’s ‘more’ problematic to target people like this for sharing their honest views.”
Despite the controversy, Lekshmi has yet to respond publicly, and she does not maintain an active social‑media presence. Her recent filmography includes Gatta Kusthi 2 and upcoming projects such as Sambarala Yeti Gattu in Telugu and Aasha in Malayalam. Meanwhile, Rana Rana continues to work on films like Emergency and Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata, and is slated to appear in Queen 2 and a project titled Circle.
