Entertainment Desk
15 August 2025, 08:19 AM IST
“If telling the truth is being shameful, then I don’t mind being shameless,” the actor said in a scathing statement.
Adah Sharma | Photo: facebook.com/RealAdahSharma/Screengrab
The furore over the recently announced 71st National Awards has yet to subside, with things taking a political turn after prominent figures, including Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, lambasted the jury for awarding National Awards to Sudipto Sen’s directorial The Kerala Story. The film stars Adah Sharma and Yogita Bihani in lead roles, portraying alleged cases of religious conversion and radicalisation in the southern state.
While many were expecting Blessy’s directorial Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) to win multiple awards—including the coveted Best Actor honour for its lead—things turned out differently. Instead, superstar Shah Rukh Khan was declared Best Actor for his performance in Atlee’s Jawan, and Rani Mukerji was awarded Best Actress for her immaculate performance in the critically acclaimed Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, based on a real-life incident.
Meanwhile, Urvashi, who won Best Supporting Actress for her heart-wrenching performance in Christo Tomy’s Ullozhukku, questioned the jury on the yardsticks used for the awards. She asked why the Best Actress award was shared in the previous edition but not this time, and also inquired about the parameters used to evaluate performances by Vijayaraghavan (Best Supporting Actor) and Shah Rukh Khan (Best Actor).
As the debate rages on, Adah Sharma’s response to The Kerala Story’s win has caught public attention. In an interview with Hindustan Times, the actor—who played Shalini Unnikrishnan in the film—was quoted saying it is her “responsibility” to give voice to real victims.
“Everyone is allowed to have their opinion. I think it would have been shameful not to make this film. I have met 25 girls who went through the horrors. The film is a diluted version of what they went through,” she said. The movie, based on alleged real-life accounts of young women being radicalised and trafficked into terrorism, had sparked a national debate upon its release.
“If telling the truth is being shameful, then I don’t mind being shameless. I have no shame in saying I am anti-terrorism. People who are calling it shameful—I think it has hit a nerve, and I don’t think nerves are hit by lies,” the actor stated.
She also pointed out that there is no mention of any political party in the film, reaffirming that the film exposes the truth rather than promoting any political agenda.
As discussions continue to unfold, Adah Sharma is exploring new territories in her career. She has several projects lined up, including a trilingual film in which she plays a goddess. The film is being made in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
Debates and discussions unfold as the cameras continue to roll! (With inputs from Agencies)
Subscribe to our NewsletterGet Latest Mathrubhumi Updates in EnglishFollow
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.