Mohanlal trolled for condemning Pahalgam terror attack; netizens link ‘Empuraan’ role to real-life tragedy

Veteran Malayalam actor Mohanlal found himself at the center of social media backlash after he posted a heartfelt note condemning the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 28 individuals.

“My heart goes out to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack”
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the superstar expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives, calling the attack “devastating” and urging the nation to stay united in grief and hope.
In his post, Mohanlal wrote, “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.”
Criticisms for the ‘Empuraan’ actor
However, the post sparked an unexpected wave of criticism. A section of netizens accused the actor of hypocrisy, citing his recent role in Empuraan, the high-budget action drama directed by Prithviraj. In the film, Mohanlal portrays Khureshi Abraam, a powerful figure who mentors a Kashmiri youth turned mercenary, a plotline some viewers interpreted as sympathetic to terrorist ideology.
Critics were quick to point out the contrast between the actor’s real-life condemnation of terrorism and the film’s controversial narrative. One user commented, “Shame on you! Your just-launched movie narrated a boy getting trained in Kashmir and launching an attack against India! For money, you guys stoop to any low!” Another comment read, “Have lost all respect for this man.” A third one commented, “We don’t trust your words anymore.” A fourth one commented, “You got a script for making another movie with your Zayed Masood!!!”
Netizens also support Mohanlal
Among the criticisms, several others also supported the superstar. One commented, “Are the comments under this tweet made by a specific group, or are they paid?” Another one commented, “Sad To See All The Terrorist Mentality Comments Here…” A third one commented, “Sad to see these comments. Why are you guys fighting for what? For whom we lost as humans?” On the work front, Mohanlal's next outing is the drama movie 'Thudarum' which is all set to release on April 25. The movie is directed by Tharun Moorthy.
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