Aishwarya Lekshmi has opened up about the lasting impact of the criticism surrounding King of Kotha, revealing that online trolling affected her confidence to such an extent that she once questioned whether she could work with Dulquer Salmaan again.
Aishwarya Lekshmi has reflected on a difficult period in her career following the release of King of Kotha in 2023.
The actor said the intense criticism directed at the film, its cast and her performance had a lasting effect on her confidence. Speaking to television presenter Ranjini Haridas on her YouTube channel, Aishwarya recalled feeling that the backlash had even influenced how the Malayalam film industry viewed her.
According to the actor, the experience made her increasingly conscious of criticism and, at one point, left her worried about appearing alongside Dulquer Salmaan again.
Aishwarya Lekshmi Recalls the Reaction to King of Kotha
King of Kotha arrived in 2023 with considerable expectations, with Dulquer Salmaan leading the cast and Abhilash Joshiy making his directorial debut.
However, Aishwarya said the response after the film’s release was difficult for her to process.
She recalled that the trolling extended beyond the film itself, with criticism aimed at her acting and dialogue delivery. She also felt that the negative reaction affected the perception of actors associated with the project.
“King of Kotha came amid huge hype in 2023. But after that, it felt like the Malayalam industry was afraid to cast me anymore,” Aishwarya said.
The actor also acknowledged that repeated criticism can sometimes make a performer question their own abilities.
She admitted that there were occasions when she felt some of the criticism directed at her may have been justified, highlighting how deeply the online reaction had affected her self-confidence.
A Remark on the Sets of Hello Mummy Stayed With Her
Aishwarya also recalled an incident that happened while she was shooting for Hello Mummy in 2024.
She said an assistant director made fun of the way her character had addressed Dulquer’s character as “Rajuvetta” in King of Kotha.
For Aishwarya, the incident was particularly difficult because the same criticism she had encountered online was now being brought up in a professional environment.
“Many people made fun of me for the way I called Dulquer ‘Rajuvetta’ in the film,” she recalled.
She said the experience hurt her deeply and was one of several moments that made her realise how strongly the earlier trolling had affected her.
Why Aishwarya Hesitated About Working With Dulquer Again
The impact became even more apparent when Aishwarya had an advertising project lined up with Dulquer.
Rather than simply accepting the assignment, she became concerned that the pairing could attract another wave of criticism.
The actor said she warned the team about the possible repercussions and questioned whether working with Dulquer again was the right decision.
“I don’t think I can work with Dulquer anymore. Such trolls have affected me that much,” Aishwarya said.
Her comments underline how criticism surrounding one project can sometimes extend beyond the film itself, influencing an actor’s confidence and even their professional decisions.
King of Kotha Cast and Crew
Directed by Abhilash Joshiy, King of Kotha marked his directorial debut.
The gangster drama featured Dulquer Salmaan and Aishwarya Lekshmi alongside Shabeer Kallarakkal, Prasanna, Gokul Suresh, Nyla Usha and Chemban Vinod Jose.
The film was positioned as a major Malayalam release and generated significant attention before its theatrical debut.
However, its reported commercial performance did not match the scale of expectations surrounding it.
What Was King of Kotha’s Box Office Collection?
According to industry-tracking website Sacnilk, King of Kotha reportedly earned around ₹31.35 crore worldwide, against a reported production budget of approximately ₹50 crore.
Box-office figures can vary between tracking services, and reported figures should therefore be treated as estimates rather than audited financial statements.
Aishwarya Lekshmi’s Candid Reflection
Aishwarya’s comments offer a glimpse into an aspect of film criticism that is rarely visible to audiences—the personal effect that sustained online trolling can have on performers.
For an actor, criticism of a performance can be part of the profession. But when that criticism follows them into subsequent projects and professional interactions, it can become much harder to separate one film from their wider career.
In discussing King of Kotha, Aishwarya has now spoken candidly about how that experience affected her confidence and influenced the way she approached opportunities involving Dulquer Salmaan.
