Malayalam actor Divya Prabha has broken her silence on the controversy surrounding the leaked nu`de scenes from her film All We Imagine As Light. In an interview with Onmanorama, the actor revealed she had anticipated such reactions when she agreed to play the role. Directed by Payal Kapadia, the film has garnered international acclaim, winning the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.
In the movie, Divya Prabha portrays Anu, a young Malayali nurse. However, her performance has been overshadowed by the backlash over the leaked scene. Addressing the criticism, she remarked, “It is really pathetic. However, I had anticipated such a response from a section of the people in Kerala even when I signed up for the role. We are a community that celebrates filmmakers like Yorgos Lanthimos and the Oscar-winning actors in their films, but we are intolerant of Malayali women doing such roles. I am glad to see there were people, especially men, who opposed the act. This shows there is a lot of hope in the present generation.”
On the circulation of the leaked footage, the actor expressed disappointment, saying, “Those who shared the leaked videos comprise 10 per cent of the population, and I don’t understand their mindset. Malayalis were also part of the Central Board, which gave us the approval.”
Divya Prabha also defended her decision to take on the role, rejecting claims that the nu`de scene was a bid for fame. “As an actor, I do scripts I am convinced about, and I was totally convinced about my character in All We Imagine As Light. Some people criticised me, saying that I did the nu`de scene for fame.