Adah Sharma Says Kerala Story Was About ISIS Turning Girls Into Suicide Bombers: 'Mujhe Nahi Laga...'

Adah Sharma made headlines with the release of The Kerala Story on May 5, 2023. Directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film featured a strong cast, including Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani and Siddhi Idnani.

In a recent chat with Bharti TV podcast, Adah opened up about the struggles faced during the film’s production, including the backlash it received before its release. She revealed that there were no premieres, and interviews were frequently canceled at the last minute. That apart, promotional efforts were heavily restricted, with hoardings and posters not permitted in many areas. Despite facing bans in various states, the film achieved remarkable success, grossing around Rs 300 crore and becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year.

Opening up on why she opted for the film, she said, “Jab The Kerala Story kar rahe the mujhe nahi laga ki hum political kar rahe hai, I felt it’s a story about a girl, and it’s about ISS and these people are making girls suicide bombers and we all are against terrorists. So the film was about that (When we were making The Kerala Story, I didn’t feel we were being political; I saw it as a story about a girl. It highlights how certain groups are turning girls into suicide bombers, and we are all against terrorism. So, the film focuses on that).”

The actress addressed the backlash The Kerala Story encountered prior to its release, yet despite the criticism, it shattered records and became one of the highest-grossing films. “Release se 10 din pehle jo gaaliyan thi, I was reacting to each one, and I was like, wait and watch the film. Yeh 2 min ke trailer pe kya kar rahe ho tum log. Then finally, when the film was released, everybody was quiet,” she said.

Adah will soon star in the web series Reeta Sanyal, which is directed by Abhirup Ghosh and written by Amit Khan. The show is set to premiere on October 14, 2024, on Disney+ Hotstar. The series follows Reeta Sanyal, a lawyer known for tackling complex legal cases, as she faces challenges in both the legal and criminal worlds.