New Delhi: Actor and producer Aishwarya Lekshmi has opened up about life after stepping away from Instagram, saying that being off social media for about a year has made her happier and eased the pressure of constantly performing online.
The actor, who is currently enjoying the response to Gatta Kusthi 2, told The Hollywood Reporter that she had initially planned to deactivate her Instagram account only temporarily. However, what began as a short break eventually turned into a longer absence from the platform.
Lekshmi said she had become tired of seeing AI-generated content and what she described as the “vulgar edit culture” surrounding celebrities online. She also said that staying away from social media had given her greater peace of mind and had not affected her work in the way she had initially expected.
Why Aishwarya Lekshmi left Instagram
Lekshmi said she never imagined that she would completely leave Instagram. Her original plan was to deactivate the account for some time because she felt she needed a break from the platform.
However, she eventually decided to remain away from social media.
One of the factors behind her decision was the nature of content involving actors and other public figures. She said she was tired of encountering AI-generated content and what she described as vulgar edits of celebrities.
According to Lekshmi, such content continues to exist online even though she is no longer actively using social media.
She also said that removing herself from the constant cycle of posting, checking reactions and responding to online activity had changed how she felt as a person.
‘I’m so much happier without it’
The actor said that not being on social media full-time had helped her feel more relaxed.
She explained that she was previously involved in constantly “performing” for social media and that stepping away from that environment had eased the pressure.
Lekshmi also said she did not believe her acting career had suffered because of her absence from Instagram.
Her managers and agents have reportedly encouraged her to return to social media, pointing out that maintaining a strong online presence can create commercial opportunities for actors.
However, Lekshmi said she viewed the personal benefits of staying away as more valuable.
She acknowledged that she may be losing some financial opportunities by not having an active social media presence but said the peace of mind she has gained is more important to her.
‘I want my films to speak for themselves’
Lekshmi also spoke about how she approaches brand endorsements without an active Instagram account.
She said she wants her films to speak for themselves and acknowledged that her absence from social media can be a limitation for brands that expect promotional activity on digital platforms.
However, she said she is willing to work with brands that understand this limitation.
The actor also suggested that not being constantly visible online has created a sense of exclusivity around her public presence.
For an industry in which social media has become an important tool for film promotion, brand partnerships and maintaining connections with audiences, Lekshmi’s decision represents a different approach to managing a public career.
Rather than treating Instagram as a necessary part of her professional identity, she has chosen to keep her work and personal life more separate from the platform.
‘Social media can become incredibly vicious and toxic’
Lekshmi also discussed how her relationship with social media had affected her perception of interactions with other people.
She recalled spending a significant amount of time reading messages and comments before leaving Instagram. According to the actor, constant exposure to online reactions had sometimes made her feel as though the entire world was against her.
She said that experience changed after she stopped using social media regularly.
Now, when she meets people in real life, she said she no longer has the same feeling that people are against her or that others are constantly plotting against her.
Lekshmi attributed that earlier perception partly to the environment created by social media.
She also recalled an earlier interview in which she had discussed the subject. After the interview was uploaded to YouTube, she said the comments reinforced her concerns because some users appeared to respond without fully engaging with what she had said.
Her comments underline the difference she perceives between online interactions and meeting people in person.
Cinema is now only one part of her life
Lekshmi also said her priorities have changed since she entered the film industry.
When she began her career, she said cinema was everything to her. Over time, however, she has come to see acting as only one part of her life.
The actor said she is now comfortable being selective about the projects she takes up. Rather than working continuously, she said she would be happy doing perhaps one film a year if it is a project she genuinely wants to be part of.
That approach also appears to influence how she manages her public image. Instead of prioritising constant visibility, she has chosen to focus on the work she wants to do.
Her comments come at a time when social media plays an increasingly significant role in the entertainment industry. Actors often use platforms such as Instagram to promote films, interact with fans, attract brand partnerships and maintain visibility between releases.
Lekshmi’s experience suggests that she sees those benefits as less important than the personal value she associates with staying away from the platform.
Who is Aishwarya Lekshmi?
Aishwarya Lekshmi is a doctor-turned-actor from Thiruvananthapuram who made her Malayalam film debut with Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela in 2017.
She gained wider recognition the same year with Mayaanadhi, followed by films including Varathan, in which she starred opposite Fahadh Faasil.
Lekshmi subsequently expanded her career into Tamil cinema, appearing in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan franchise. The films became a major part of her filmography and remain among her most prominent releases.
Her other credits across Malayalam and Tamil cinema include Kaanekkaane, Ammu, Kumari, Gatta Kusthi, Hello Mummy and Maaman with Soori.
Alongside acting, Lekshmi has also worked as a producer, adding another dimension to her career in the film industry.
A different approach to celebrity visibility
Aishwarya Lekshmi’s decision to remain away from Instagram highlights the increasingly complicated relationship between celebrity culture and social media.
For actors, online platforms can provide significant professional advantages, but they can also expose them to constant commentary, unsolicited content and pressure to remain visible.
Lekshmi has acknowledged that her decision may mean missing some opportunities, particularly those connected to social media-driven brand promotions. At the same time, she has said that the personal benefits of stepping away have outweighed those professional considerations for her.
For now, she appears comfortable allowing her films and selective public appearances to remain the primary ways audiences connect with her work.