Aishwarya Lekshmi Opens Up About Caste Question During Rural Tamil Nadu Shoot: ‘What Difference Does It Make?’

Aishwarya Lekshmi has opened up about an uncomfortable experience she encountered while shooting for an upcoming film in rural Tamil Nadu. Recalling a conversation with villagers during a schedule in Erode, the actor said she was surprised when she was asked about her gotra and caste background.

Speaking to Rajini Haridas in a recent conversation, Aishwarya described the location as being markedly different from the environment she was accustomed to. The particular portion of the film was set in 1996, and she said the surroundings and local culture made her feel as though she had stepped into another period.

“It was a very different life. We were shooting for a portion set in 1996. I kept asking the director, ‘Will people mistake this for a different era?’ The place felt very old. It had a very different culture,” Aishwarya said.

Aishwarya Lekshmi Says She Was Asked About Her Gotra

The actor then recalled an interaction that particularly stayed with her. According to Aishwarya, some people in the area asked her about her gotra, a lineage identifier traditionally associated with Hindu communities.

“People over there have asked me what my gotra is, and I had newfound appreciation for Malayalees because nobody has asked me that in my life. I don’t even know my gotra,” she said.

For Aishwarya, the question was difficult to understand because caste or lineage had not previously been something people had asked her about in everyday interactions.

“What difference does it make to you? That was difficult for me,” she remarked.

Actor Clarifies She Was Not Generalising About the Region

Aishwarya was careful to distinguish her personal experience from a broader judgment about the people or region. She stressed that she was describing something that happened to her rather than suggesting everyone in the area shared the same outlook.

“I’m not saying everybody is like that, but this did happen,” she said.

Her comments offer a glimpse into the cultural differences she encountered while working away from the environment she was familiar with in Kerala. Rather than making a sweeping statement about an entire community, Aishwarya focused on her own reaction to being asked about her caste background.

Aishwarya Lekshmi’s Journey From Medicine to Cinema

Aishwarya Lekshmi, who hails from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, began her acting career in 2017 with Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela. She went on to gain wider recognition the same year with Aashiq Abu’s Mayaanadhi, which established her as one of the prominent young actors in Malayalam cinema.

Over the years, she has appeared in films across Malayalam, Tamil and other South Indian industries. Her credits include Varathan, Kaanekkaane, Ammu, Kumari, Ponniyin Selvan: I, Ponniyin Selvan: II, Gatta Kusthi, Maaman and Hello Mummy, among others.

Aishwarya is also a doctor by training, making her transition into acting a notable part of her career story.

Aishwarya Lekshmi Currently Seen in Aasha

The actor is currently appearing in the Malayalam mystery thriller ** Aasha **, which also features Urvashi, Joju George and Vijayaraghavan in prominent roles.