Aishwarya Lekshmi reveals why she turned down Gargi
Aishwarya Lekshmi has revealed that she initially declined the lead role in director Gautham Ramachandran’s critically acclaimed film Gargi, believing the project deserved a more established star at that stage of her career.
Speaking in a recent interview, Aishwarya said she first heard the script before the Covid-19 pandemic and chose not to accept the offer. Although the project returned to her a few years later, she maintained the same view.
She explained that her decision was motivated by concern for the film and its director, saying she felt a bigger heroine would help the project reach a wider audience. She also recalled that her then manager was unhappy with her decision.
Looking back, Aishwarya admitted that if she were offered the role today, she would readily accept it.
Although she did not play the lead, Aishwarya appeared briefly in Gargi as a television reporter. Released in 2022, the film starred Sai Pallavi in the central role, with R S Shivaji portraying a security guard accused of sexual abuse. The story follows his daughter’s determined fight to clear his name while confronting public scrutiny and the legal system.