The Kerala Story 2: Congress head Rahul Gandhi sparks new controversy with a comment on the movie’s box office performance. In an interaction with students, Gandhi said the reported underwhelming theater turnout for the film was “good news”, arguing that, in his opinion, Indians themselves were averse to watching movies that aggravate hatred among communities.
His statements quickly drew reactions on social media and from supporters and critics of the film that added a political layer to the discussion surrounding the movie’s theatre run.
Here is Honda Sherni Riddhima Sharma crying on camera saying
” Why is no one watching Kerala Story 2? The whole theatre is empty”
Peak Happiness seeing the empty theatre and the bich whining 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/UhuNW0hF9G
— Nehr_who? (@Nher_who) March 7, 2026
Rahul Gandhi’s Statement on the Film
Speaking with some students during the interaction, Rahul Gandhi said sparse crowds for the sequel meant that the audience is boycotting the movies, which show a particular community in a bad light.
The audience response, according to him, mirrors a large segment of Indians who want content that unifies citizens as opposed to divisive stories based on religion or caste.
His statement made its way quickly through social media, sparking debate among political pundits and movie lovers alike over the part cinema plays in shaping public narratives.
The real Kerala story – compassion, unity, and always standing by one another. ❤️
Cinema and media should bring people together, not be weaponised to divide society or vilify communities. pic.twitter.com/7ofs7fPJzF
— Congress (@INCIndia) March 7, 2026
The Kerala Story 2 Box Office Collection
The Kerala Story 2 is the follow-up to the controversial film The Kerala Story, which had a solid theatrical run and allegedly grossed more than ₹300 crore globally.
But the sequel has had a more muted box office debut. Its first-day collections were around ₹4.65 crore, while it fell to approximately over ₹2.19 crore on the seventh day of its release. In India alone, the film made about ₹22 crore in its first week.
Though with its comparative lag to the original film, industry observers say the sequel has already recovered its estimated production cost of around ₹20–30 crore, making it financially stable early in its theatrical run.
Kerala Story 2 Director Kamakhya Narayan Singh on Rahul Gandhi-
“The person who lost 50+ Elections, is now going to teach us about cinema?” pic.twitter.com/urYLZGusBU
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) March 6, 2026
Filmmakers, Audiences Split on Overall Impact
The film’s supporters, including members of its production team, have brushed aside Gandhi’s remarks and defended the movie’s message. The director and the team behind the project say the story highlights sensitive issues and is meant to spark conversation rather than create division.
At the same time, several viewers have praised the film’s emotional storytelling and intense narrative, while critics continue debating its themes and portrayal of certain subjects.
An Ongoing Political and Cultural Argument
The controversy surrounding The Kerala Story 2 once again shows how closely cinema and politics can intersect in India. While some audiences see the film as an important piece of social commentary, others believe it contributes to unnecessary polarisation.
As discussions continue across social media and political circles, the film remains part of a larger debate about storytelling, representation, and the influence of cinema on public discourse.
