Mohanlal faces backlash for doing cameo in Dileep's Bha Bha Bha; Bhagyalakshmi calls him 'insensitive'

Mohanlal and Bhagyalakshmi

After Malayalam actor Dileep was acquitted in the 2017 actress assault case, the directors of his next film Bha Bha Ba (short for Bhayam Bhakthi Bahumanam) released the trailer. The film, which will be released on December 18, also includes a cameo appearance by Mohanlal. Bhagyalakshmi, an actor and dubbing artist, addressed the press on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) and lambasted Mohanlal. This is what she said.

Bhagyalakshmi calls Mohanlal insensitive

Bhagyalakshmi talked at a session titled Patriarchy in Indian Cinema: Power, Gender, Politics, about how the survivor of the 2017 assault case received little to no assistance from the Malayalam cinema industry and was forced to fight the battle alone.

She then addressed the media, calling Mohanlal 'insensitive' and 'thoughtless' for distributing Bha Bha Ba's poster and advertising materials. She said, "Did Mohanlal even pause for a moment before sharing that poster right after the verdict? We heard him repeatedly say, I pray for her (the survivor). When someone with that kind of influence does this, what message is being sent to survivors?" She further added, "This is not about cinema alone anymore. This is about ethics. It is about what we choose to endorse publicly."

Bhagyalakshmi also criticised Dileep's actions upon his acquittal, saying, "He appeared jubilant, addressing the media and attacking his former wife, Manju Warrier, who had supported the investigation." She also said that Manju would have suffered if the survivor hadn't come forward with her story when she did. The actor reportedly stated that the survivor faced more 'humiliation' in court than she did during the assault, but remained strong.

All about the controversy

This comes after the actor resigned from the Film Employees' Kerala Association (FEFKA), citing the organisation's decision to welcome Dileep back after the verdict and the 'double standards' displayed.

In 2017, a prominent actress was kidnapped and raped in a moving vehicle. Dileep was caught a few months after the assault, after authorities discovered links to the primary perpetrator, Pulsar Suni. He was granted bail and continued to work in the Malayalam film business after that.

The case led to the foundation of the Women in Cinema Collective and the Hema Committee. The trial began in a sessions court in Ernakulam in 2018 and lasted eight years. On December 8, 2025, Dileep and three others were acquitted in the case, while six others were convicted. Dileep's acquittal has fractured the cinema industry. The Kerala administration declared plans to challenge the ruling in higher courts.