Why Vismaya Mohanlal's Support for Student Protests Sparked a Cyberstorm

Vismaya Mohanlal, daughter of actor Mohanlal, has faced a significant online backlash after supporting student protests against alleged NEET exam irregularities. Her Instagram post questioning the police's violent response to demonstrators sparked a wave of abuse, primarily from pro-government accounts. While some called for a boycott of her upcoming film, many others praised her courage for speaking out. This incident highlights the polarized nature of political discourse on social media, as other celebrities who supported the protests also faced similar trolling. Explore the full story to understand the implications of her stand.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 22, 2026, 17:10 IST

Vismaya Mohanlal Faces Backlash for Supporting Student Protests

Kochi: Vismaya Mohanlal, the daughter of renowned actor Mohanlal, has recently become the target of a significant online backlash after she expressed her support for the student protests led by the CJP in New Delhi. These protests were aimed at addressing alleged discrepancies in the NEET examination and condemning the harsh police response to demonstrators.

During the protests, thousands of students marched from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to the NEET paper leaks. The police intervened, using barricades to halt the march and resorting to lathi-charges and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

In response to distressing images of injured students circulating on social media, Vismaya took to her Instagram Story to voice her concerns. She questioned, "Is this how a democratic nation should treat its citizens? When people speak out, should the answer be violent suppression instead of constructive dialogue? What kind of democracy are we fostering?"

Her post ignited a wave of coordinated online abuse, primarily from accounts aligned with the BJP and the central government. As Vismaya's debut film Thudakkam is set to premiere on August 7, many users called for a boycott of the film, accusing her of seeking publicity through her comments.

The backlash extended to Mohanlal's official Facebook page, where hostile remarks targeted both him and his daughter. Comments included, "Ask your father what happened to Prithviraj," and "You've tarnished Lalettan's reputation," along with threats that families would not support her film.

Some users labeled Vismaya and other film personalities who supported the students as "anti-national," using derogatory terms and referencing unrelated incidents like the Pahalgam terror attack.

Despite the cyber assault, Vismaya received considerable support from many social media users who commended her bravery in speaking out against police brutality, fully aware of the potential backlash that could impact her father's reputation and her acting career.

While Facebook was inundated with negative comments, many Instagram users rallied to her defense, praising her for taking a stand on such a critical issue.

The online harassment was not limited to Vismaya alone. Other actors, including Tovino Thomas, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Rima Kallingal, Prachi Tehlan, and filmmaker Aashiq Abu, who also expressed solidarity with the protesting students, faced similar trolling and calls for boycotts, underscoring the increasingly divisive nature of political discussions on social media.