Aishwarya Lekshmi has opened up about life after stepping away from social media, saying the decision has brought her a sense of calm that she did not have while constantly using the platforms. The actor, who deactivated her social media accounts earlier this year, acknowledged that many of the problems that influenced her decision have not disappeared. However, she now feels better equipped to avoid being consumed by them.
Speaking during a conversation with Puja Talwar, Aishwarya said she is happier with where her life is currently heading.
“It’s falling in place. I’m happy with my life as it is right now. So much more at peace than I was while I was on social media,” she said.
Her comments came during a promotional interaction for the Netflix series #Love, where she appeared alongside Arjun Das and producer Soundarya Rajinikanth.
Aishwarya Lekshmi Says Leaving Social Media Has Brought Calm
For Aishwarya, leaving social media was not necessarily about believing that the platforms themselves had no value. Instead, she described the decision as a personal choice that helped her create distance from an environment she found increasingly difficult.
The actor admitted that some of the issues that originally prompted her to leave still exist.
“I do see that the things that were the reason I made the decision to get out of social media still prevail in certain quantities,” she said.
The difference, she explained, is that she is no longer constantly exposed to those conversations.
“But at least I’m not there always watching it and getting affected by things like that. I’m generally in a better place in life.”
That distinction appears important to Aishwarya. She has not suggested that criticism, online discussions or social-media culture have suddenly changed. Rather, stepping away has changed her own relationship with that environment.
Soundarya Rajinikanth Defends the Professional Value of Social Media
Soundarya Rajinikanth, who was part of the same promotional conversation, offered a different but complementary perspective.
As a producer, Soundarya said social media has become an important professional tool for the entertainment industry. Producers and filmmakers can use audience reactions to understand how trailers, announcements and other promotional material are being received.
She acknowledged that social platforms can provide useful feedback and said producers do pay attention to audience responses.
However, she believes the situation changes when professional criticism becomes personal.
“I think you can’t deny the fact that social media does play a part. But where it crosses the line is when professional stops and personal attacks or comments start,” Soundarya said.
She explained that producers may monitor Instagram and other platforms to understand audience sentiment, but the experience can be substantially different for actors who are directly exposed to public commentary.
‘It Is Difficult for Them,’ Says Soundarya
Soundarya also drew a distinction between people working behind the camera and performers who are constantly visible to audiences.
According to her, filmmakers and producers may not experience the same degree of personal targeting as actors because they are less directly exposed to public scrutiny.
“It’s different for our artistes because they’re in front of the camera. It’s different for makers, storytellers because we’re behind the camera,” she explained.
Soundarya added that people working behind the scenes may not be targeted “as insensitively” as performers can be.
“It is difficult for them, so I understand why Aishwarya took the step that she did,” she said.
Soundarya Rajinikanth Wants a More ‘Clean’ Social Media Culture
While defending the professional importance of social platforms, Soundarya also acknowledged their shortcomings.
She argued that social media could be considerably more useful if people approached online conversations with greater sensitivity.
“If people have a little bit more sensitivity when they come on social media, it’ll make everything pleasant,” she said.
For Soundarya, the issue is therefore not necessarily whether the entertainment industry should abandon social media. Instead, she believes the culture surrounding online interaction needs to improve.
“We do need social media today. But I still feel it can be a lot cleaner than what it is,” she added.
Aishwarya Lekshmi Acknowledges Social Media’s Opportunities
Despite choosing to leave the platforms, Aishwarya did not dismiss their professional advantages.
She pointed to the opportunities social media has created for independent creators who might previously have struggled to attract attention from the traditional entertainment industry.
The actor highlighted Hashir, a Kerala-based Instagram influencer and content creator, as an example of someone whose online popularity helped open a path into mainstream cinema.
Aishwarya referred to his casting in Vaazha 2 and praised him as an actor whose work has connected strongly with audiences.
Social Media Has Changed How New Talent Gets Discovered
Aishwarya’s comments point to a significant change in the entertainment ecosystem.
Traditionally, actors and aspiring performers depended heavily on established industry networks, auditions and professional gatekeepers to get noticed. Social platforms have created another route, allowing creators to build an audience independently and demonstrate their abilities directly.
As Aishwarya put it, creators now have a way to “showcase your talent or build yourself up in a way that you cannot be ignored.”
That opportunity, however, does not necessarily mean every performer has to remain active online.
‘Personally, I Was Done’
For Aishwarya, the professional benefits ultimately did not outweigh the personal impact.
She acknowledged that social media can help creators and performers establish themselves, but said her own experience had reached a point where she no longer wanted to participate.
“I do see that side. But personally, I was done.”
Her comments offer a more nuanced explanation than simply saying she dislikes social media. She recognises its role in modern entertainment while making it clear that she personally feels healthier and calmer after stepping away.
A Different Relationship With the Digital World
Aishwarya Lekshmi’s decision highlights the complicated role social media now plays in the entertainment industry.
For actors, platforms can provide visibility, audience access and professional opportunities. At the same time, constant exposure to criticism and personal commentary can make the same platforms emotionally demanding.
Soundarya Rajinikanth’s comments acknowledge the industry’s dependence on social-media feedback, while Aishwarya’s experience illustrates why that dependence can come at a personal cost.
For now, Aishwarya appears comfortable with the distance she has created.
And rather than suggesting that social media has changed, her message is simpler: she has changed her own proximity to it—and feels more at peace because of that choice.
