Responding to the criticisms that his films 'glorify' and 'promote' drug culture, filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj listed out the initiatives he is a part of to ensure that the young generation doesn't get addicted to drug abuse.

The director said, "I really don't get how having protagonists fighting drug culture in my films amounts to 'glorifying' the same. But I have to clear this up now. I usually do not share the social welfare activities I engage in, but to put an end to the controversies, I think I need to. I initiated a 'Say No To Drugs' campaign among Coimbatore colleges."

He said that through the initiative, he is also incentivising such students by taking them under his wings. "We conducted a short film contest on the anti-drug theme, and I announced that the student whose film topped the 60 films we received is working as an AD with me now. How else am I supposed to prove I am socially responsible?"

Last directed Rajinikanth starrer Coolie, Lokesh Kanagaraj will next be seen making his acting debut as the lead in Arun Matheswaran's DC, opposite Wamiqa Gabbi, and is helming Allu Arjun's next, tentatively titled AA23.