KOCHI: Following his social media post condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, actor Mohanlal has become the target of a coordinated online hate campaign.
Many users took to various platforms to criticise the actor for his association with the film 'L2: Empuraan', which includes scenes related to the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Mohanlal had posted on Facebook on Tuesday: "My heart goes out to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. It is devastating to witness such cruelty. No cause can ever justify the taking of innocent lives. To the grieving families, your sorrow is beyond words. Please know that you are not alone. The entire nation stands with you in mourning. Let us hold on to each other a little tighter and never let go of the hope that peace will prevail even in the face of darkness."
However, the comment section of his post quickly filled with criticism linking his role in Empuraan to perceived political messaging.
Comments included: "Take one more Empuraan and justify terrorism," and "Please do not work in such films for the sake of money." Some also questioned his honorary Colonel rank in the Territorial Army.
The film, directed by Prithviraj and written by Murali Gopy, had previously drawn criticism upon its release.
The RSS-affiliated publication Organiser had published articles opposing the film, prompting the filmmakers to edit and resubmit certain scenes for censorship review.
Following Tuesday's events, Prithviraj also faced renewed backlash, with users posting critical comments on his earlier social media posts.
Critics challenged whether future sequels of Empuraan would depict the Pahalgam attack. Some of the harshest online comments were directed at Mohanlal, with users suggesting that his reputation, built over a 45-year career, had been harmed by his collaboration with Prithviraj.
One comment read: "The time when Malayalis trusted you is over. What you built over decades was undone by one film."
Despite the backlash, several users expressed concern over the intensity of the criticism. "Maybe it is because he was loved so much; people feel let down," one user noted. Others pointed out that the level of hate directed at Mohanlal was disproportionate compared to others involved in the film.
