Film critic and journalist Alleppey Ashraf has stated in a YouTube video that Kalyani Priyadarshan and her brother, Siddharth, lived in an orphanage in one of the poorest regions of Vietnam for a week. According to Ashraf, this was a deliberate decision by their parents, filmmaker Priyadarshan and actress Lissy, to teach their children about humility and to expose them to a life far different from their privileged upbringing. During their time there, they reportedly shared meals and lived in modest conditions, just like the other children.
Kalyani has been criticized by netizens for allegedly talking about such an incident openly. "The undertone of this statement seems to describe the elite mindset. For most children, living in an orphanage is not a lesson but a lived reality. Framing a short stay as an experience or lesson highlights privilege - being able to try out hardship without being bound by it," wrote Violet, a social media user.
Kalyani Priyadarshan has attained stardom with Lokah - Chapter 1: Chandra becoming the biggest Mollywood hit of all time.
