Mar 28, 2026 4:35pm IST
Aditi Bhatia on ‘The Kerala Story 2’ Backlash: ‘If You’ve Approached Your Work With Integrity, You Have to Stand by It’ (EXCLUSIVE)
“The Kerala Story 2 Goes Beyond,” which was released recently, did set the ball rolling for an intense debate. The film faced considerable backlash, with many feeling that it not only painted the state in a bad light but also made baseless claims. Actor Aditi Bhatia, who was a part of the film, has now opened up about the same and revealed why she stands by the film. The actor also spoke about her transition from television to films.
In an exclusive chat with Variety India when asked whether she was aware of the conversation that would follow the film before getting on board, Aditi Bhatia said, “Absolutely. I was aware that this isn’t just a film, it’s a conversation that extends beyond cinema.”
At the same time, she is clear that overthinking the surrounding discourse can affect the work itself. She added, “My responsibility was to stay honest to my character and her journey. If you start thinking too much about the noise around it, you risk losing the truth of what you’re portraying.”
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That balance between artistic honesty and public reaction is something Bhatia approaches with a sense of clarity. She acknowledges that stories rooted in reality are always going to be viewed from multiple perspectives, but believes intent matters more than anything else. “For me, the focus is always on intent and honesty. If you’ve approached your work with integrity and sensitivity, you have to stand by it. You can’t control how people will receive something, but you can control the truth you bring to it,” she said.
The conversation naturally extends to the larger debate around violence in cinema and whether audiences are becoming desensitized to it. For Bhatia, the answer lies in context. Aditi Bhatia added, “It’s a valid concern, and something I do think about. But I also believe context matters. If a story is told with sensitivity and purpose, it doesn’t desensitize, it creates awareness. The intention behind the storytelling makes all the difference.”
Beyond the discourse, the project also marks another step in Bhatia’s ongoing effort to shift how audiences perceive her. Having grown up on television, she says she is now actively seeking characters that allow her to push beyond familiarity. “I’m really drawn to characters that are layered women who are strong yet vulnerable, flawed yet self-aware,” she said. “I want to explore roles that challenge me emotionally and psychologically, because that’s where I feel real growth happens as an actor.”
For Bhatia, that transition is not something that happens overnight. “I think every actor who starts young goes through that phase where the audience takes time to see them differently,” she concluded. “You earn that perception over time through consistent choices.”
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