EXCLUSIVE: Patralekhaa REVEALS How ‘Small Film’ Phule Became A Controversy Target But ‘Bigger Film’ Kesari Chapter 2 Got A Free Pass; Says, “There Was A Lot Of Negative Publicity”

Patralekhaa is an actress who works in Hindi films and series. Paul made her acting debut with the drama film CityLights (2014). She appeared in the streaming miniseries Bose: Dead/Alive (2017). She has been featured in IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack (2024) and Phule (2025). In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble, Patralekhaa opened up on how social reform films such as Akshay Kumar’s Kesari Chapter 2 didn’t face controversy while her recent release Phule suffered severe backlash.

Patralekhaa Compares Phule & Kesari Chapter 2

When asked about comparing social reform films like Kesari Chapter 2 and Phule, Patralekhaa said, “I see that with bigger films and more fame, there’s more at stake—I suppose. I don’t know. I guess with bigger films, there’s just more involved—more pressure. Maybe it’s the producers, maybe it’s something else. I don’t know how to put it into words. And also, those films have that kind of reach with the audience, you know? Like today, someone like Akshay Sir has a certain kind of reach that naturally comes with his name.”

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When asked if the CBFC cuts, controversy ahead of Phule’s release, affected its box office success, the IC814 actress said, “I suppose yes and no, because there was a lot of negative publicity. But actually, now that people are going and watching it, we’re not getting any hate anymore. Nobody is saying anything negative now. It feels terrible about the controversies—really, really bad.”

She continued, “Whether it’s Phule or any other film, you give your heart and soul to it. Over 200 people are working on it, the cast and crew all coming together for one thing, one vision. And then suddenly, there’s so much noise around it for all the wrong reasons. It’s also a very small film, so it was obviously quite overwhelming, and I kept thinking, ‘I hope ki yeh film an bandh hojaaye’. But anyway, God was kind.”

Watch the full interview here:

Interview written and transcribed by Akankshya Mukherjee

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Patralekhaa ADMITS Personal Identity Being Lost After Bollywood Labels Her As Rajkummar Rao’s Wife; Says, “I Have A Name, I’m An Individual”