Anaswara Rajan reacts to out-of-context remark going viral: 'That’s not reporting, that’s cherry-picking'

Anaswara Rajan has spoken out against media coverage that she says distorted a light-hearted remark into a misleading controversy during the promotion of her upcoming Tamil film ‘With Love’. The actor, who has built a strong reputation in Malayalam cinema and is steadily expanding her presence in Tamil films, said a joking exchange from a longer interview was taken out of context and framed as a serious statement. She expressed disappointment in what she described as headline-driven reporting that prioritised provocation over accuracy, which forced her to publicly clarify her intent.

Anaswara Rajan responds to viral headlines

According to an interview with Cinema Vikatan, Anaswara was responding to comments made by her co-star Abishan Jeevinth during a promotional interaction. Abishan had said he initially felt hesitant to approach her because he saw her as a big star. In response, Anaswara joked that she had acted “dumb” to break the ice and make him comfortable. The exchange was met with laughter on set, and Abishan later called it “dumbest behaviour” in a clearly humorous tone, adding that he would explain it off-camera.

However, the actress said that one line from the conversation was taken out of context and given a serious spin in headlines that soon went viral. Taking to social media, Anaswara called out the reporting directly. “I really have to hand it to whoever put this together. It must’ve taken a lot of patience to sit through a full 20-minute Tamil interview filled with light conversations and shared laughter, find a single line that was said jokingly while everyone laughed, and then present it as some ‘serious statement,’” she wrote. She added, “That’s not reporting, that’s cherry-picking, twisting context, and creating negativity where none existed.”

'With Love' release and context behind the remark

The actress said she usually avoids reacting to online drama but felt compelled to speak this time. “Recently, I’ve made it a rule not to react to drama or engage with nonsense. I try not to give it the spotlight it craves,” she wrote. “But when people try to make me out to be someone I’m not, that’s where I draw the line. So yes, I had to speak up this time.” She also remarked that “blowing a joke out of proportion doesn’t make you sharp; it makes you desperate for attention.”

‘With Love’ stars Anaswara Rajan alongside Abishan Jeevinth and is written and directed by Madhan in his debut. The Tamil romantic drama is scheduled for a theatrical release on February 6, 2026.


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