Cinema VinesVismaya Mohanlal, the daughter of celebrated Malayalam actor Mohanlal, has stood firm behind her comments on the student protests that erupted in Delhi earlier this month, despite a wave of online harassment that followed her Instagram post. In an interview with FTQ’s Rekha Menon, the actress reiterated that she has no regrets about voicing her thoughts and remains committed to the principles she articulated.
The actress explained that India’s democratic fabric demands that citizens be free to question authority and be heard. She emphasized that dialogue should always precede force and that politics must never eclipse humanity. Vismaya also stressed that her stance would not shift regardless of which political party holds power in the future.
Earlier in August, Vismaya shared an Instagram story urging people to reflect on the state of democracy amid the protests. She clarified that one need not agree with the demonstrators or their demands, but she warned that the use of overwhelming force against citizens exercising their democratic rights should alarm everyone. Her post called for a reassessment of what such heavy-handed responses say about the country’s democratic health.
The post sparked intense backlash on social media. Critics branded her an embarrassment to her father and hurled abusive, derogatory remarks at both Vismaya and veteran actor Mohanlal. Filmmaker Major Ravi, who has known the actress since childhood, weighed in by suggesting that her comments were not politically motivated but rather stemmed from empathy after witnessing the human suffering surrounding the protests. He argued that Vismaya lacked the political awareness to form a nuanced opinion.
Despite the controversy, Vismaya’s latest remarks make it clear that her position remains unchanged. She continues to advocate for open dialogue, human dignity, and the protection of democratic rights, regardless of the political climate.
