Darshana Rajendran says she faced 'Disgusting' comments post 'Hridayam' - 'They said I didn’t fit as Pranav Mohanlal’s heroine'; read more

Actress Darshana Rajendran has spoken about the backlash she faced after the release of the romantic drama film 'Hridayam' (2022).Talking to online media alongside actress Anupama Parameswaran, Darshana revealed that playing the female lead opposite Pranav Mohanlal came with its own wave of criticism—much of it focused on her appearance rather than her performance.Trigger Warning: This article contains details about cybercrime, which may include sensitive information on topics such as data breaches, fraud, and online exploitation.

'some said I shouldn’t have been Pranav Mohanlal's heroine'

In an interview with Galatta Plus, Darshana recalled that a significant section of the audience questioned her pairing with Pranav. "When people brought up 'Hridayam'—questioning beauty standards and saying I didn’t fit as Pranav Mohanlal’s lead—I couldn’t help but find it amusing," she said.

While the film itself was a massive commercial success, the actress admitted that the negativity around her casting was hard to ignore at first.

'I read everything', says Darshana Rajendran

She described how online reactions have become a routine part of an actor’s life. “Whenever a film doesn’t turn out as people expect, negative interactions often follow in the form of hate and criticism. I read everything. People tell me not to, but it doesn’t affect me,” Darshana explained.

However, she added that timing plays a role: “If I’m not in the right frame of mind, I stay away from it since I might not be able to defend myself.

But when I’m feeling stronger, I can simply laugh it off.”Darshana also revealed receiving several “disgusting” comments that she could never share publicly, emphasizing how brutal online trolling can be for actors.

'Hridayam’s success

Vineeth Sreenivasan's directorial 'Hridayam' went on to become one of the most celebrated Malayalam films of 2022. The coming-of-age romantic drama starred Pranav Mohanlal, Kalyani Priyadarshan, and Darshana in lead roles, with music by Hesham Abdul Wahab.Meanwhile, Darshana Rajendran will be next seen in the film 'Paradha' which stars Anupama Parameswaran in the lead.

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