Malayalam actress Aishwarya Lekshmi has opened up about one of the most difficult periods of her personal life and how she chose to celebrate rebuilding herself after a painful breakup.
In a recent conversation with television presenter Ranjini Haridas, the actor recalled walking away from some projects during what she described as a particularly difficult phase. She also revealed that she bought herself a Range Rover Evoque in Tribeca Blue as a personal milestone, comparing the gesture to Sushmita Sen’s famous diamond ring.
For Aishwarya, however, the luxury car was about much more than its price tag. She described it as a symbol of independence and a “personal win.”
Aishwarya Lekshmi Bought Herself a Range Rover as a Valentine’s Day Gift
Aishwarya said she purchased the car in 2024, during a period when she was rebuilding her life after a difficult breakup.
According to the actress, she had gone through a particularly challenging time and had even walked away from some projects. She said only her close friends were aware of what she was experiencing at the time.
Because she has a strong interest in cars, Aishwarya decided to give herself a significant gift.
“I bought a car in 2024 with my hard-earned money. This was a phase where I was rebuilding myself after the breakup. It was a very bad phase, and I walked out of projects during that time.”
She then explained the inspiration behind the purchase.
“So, I wanted the equivalent of Sushmita Sen’s diamond ring. Since I love cars, I bought myself a Range Rover Evoque in Tribeca Blue colour.”
Aishwarya even arranged for the vehicle’s delivery on February 14, turning Valentine’s Day into a celebration of herself.
“I wanted the delivery on February 14 as a Valentine’s Day gift to myself.”
She jokingly added that anyone interested in dating her should know the standard she has set for herself.
She Faced Derogatory Comments Over the Luxury Car
The actress also recalled the reactions she received after buying the Range Rover.
During one shoot, someone asked her whether the car had been gifted to her by someone else. Aishwarya said the question immediately struck her as strange because she had purchased the vehicle herself.
“My immediate thought was, ‘If I had someone to buy me such gifts, why would I work in this movie?’”
The comments became even more uncomfortable when she looked at reactions to a social-media post showing her collecting the car.
According to Aishwarya, some people questioned how she could afford such a vehicle and made derogatory remarks about what kind of work she might have done to purchase it.
Rather than allowing the comments to diminish the moment, she chose to view the purchase differently.
“But those comments didn’t affect me. That (buying the car) was a personal win for me.”
Why the Range Rover Meant More Than a Luxury Purchase
Aishwarya’s comments put the purchase in the context of a difficult period rather than simply presenting it as a celebrity luxury-car story.
The Range Rover represented something she had achieved with her own earnings while trying to rebuild her confidence after a breakup. Her comparison with Sushmita Sen’s diamond ring was therefore less about the value of the gift and more about the idea of giving yourself something meaningful after overcoming a difficult chapter.
Her response to the online criticism also reflects a broader issue faced by women in the public eye, where financial success can sometimes invite intrusive assumptions that have little to do with their actual work.
Aishwarya Lekshmi’s Journey From Medicine to Cinema
Aishwarya Lekshmi has built a career across Malayalam and Tamil cinema after initially working as a model. She is also a trained MBBS doctor.
She made her acting debut with Njandukalude Naattil Oridavela in 2017 and subsequently gained wider recognition with films including Mayaanadhi and Varathan.
Her filmography has since expanded across different genres and languages, with projects such as Ponniyin Selvan I, Ponniyin Selvan II and Gatta Kusthi adding to her profile.
She has also taken on production-related responsibilities, making her career in the film industry broader than acting alone.
Aishwarya Lekshmi Returns With Aasha
Aishwarya is now returning to the screen with Aasha, directed by debutant filmmaker Safar Sanal.
The project marks another chapter in a career in which the actress has increasingly spoken about choosing work on her own terms.
Her latest comments suggest that the same approach extends beyond her professional decisions. After going through a difficult personal period, Aishwarya chose to mark her recovery with something she genuinely wanted—a Range Rover bought with her own earnings.
