Actor Malavika Mohanan has addressed the controversy surrounding her Sardar 2 co-star Karthi’s recent comments about her appearance in the film, saying the actor’s remarks stemmed from conversations about the creative treatment of her character.
Karthi had drawn criticism after comparing Malavika to Italian actor Monica Bellucci during a Sardar 2 promotional event. He had said that, given her appearance, he initially expected her to be given a more glamorous look in the spy thriller. He also revealed that he had suggested changing her costume to director PS Mithran, only to be told that it did not fit the character.
Speaking on The SS Podcast, Malavika offered some context to Karthi’s comments. According to the actor, the two had discussed how their characters, both spies, could adopt different appearances while undercover. She pointed to films such as Mr and Mrs Smith, where action sequences are staged with Angelina Jolie in outfits and footwear that are conventionally associated with glamour rather than combat.
Malavika further revealed that Sardar 2 features an action sequence involving her and Karthi on a plane, with her character performing stunts while wearing a skirt. She said the idea was to create an interesting visual contrast rather than necessarily present her character in conventional actionwear. “He thought it would be interesting for me to do the stunt sequence in a skirt,” she said, adding that such choices were part of taking cinematic liberties to make the visuals more engaging.
Addressing the criticism Karthi faced over his comments, Malavika was unequivocal in her support for her co-star. She described him as “a gentleman” and said actresses often share their experiences of working with actors in the industry. She added that Karthi and his brother Suriya are frequently described by their female co-stars as gentlemen and said she could personally vouch for Karthi.
Directed by PS Mithran, Sardar 2 is a sequel to the 2022 spy thriller Sardar. Karthi returns as the lead, while Rajisha Vijayan reprises her role. Malavika Mohanan, SJ Suryah and Ashika Ranganath are among the new additions to the cast. The film is scheduled to hit theatres on September 10.
