‘People lecture actresses over their clothes but stay silent when pictures are misused’; Aishwarya Lekshmi questions double standards

Actress Aishwarya Lekshmi is steadily making a mark in both the Malayalam and Tamil film industries. Although she is not very active on social media, her film scenes and photographs often go viral. However, she believes that not everyone who shows interest in a celebrity online can be considered a genuine fan.

In an interview with a leading media outlet, Aishwarya opened up about certain disturbing trends carried out in the name of fandom.

“Isn't it a blessing to receive love even from people we don't know? It shows that the work we do is reaching the audience,” Aishwarya said.

She pointed out that such recognition was important in the film industry, as producers and directors often preferred actors with a large fan following.

The actress also spoke about the special happiness she felt when films that did not attract much attention in theatres later found a place in the hearts of audiences. Citing Archana 31 and Hello Mummy as examples, she said, “When people come up to me and say that these films are among their favourites, it makes me especially happy.”

However, Aishwarya cautioned against measuring genuine fandom through social media follower counts. “The number of followers alone cannot be considered a measure of true fandom. Creating objectionable AI images and circulating morphed photographs are not expressions of love,” she said.

She also questioned the practice of taking photographs of actresses in public places by focusing on parts of their bodies and sharing them on social media.

“The problem is that many people are not willing to speak out against such behaviour. But if an actress wears a Western outfit of her choice, there will be no shortage of people ready to lecture her on morality,” she said.