‘They said our kids will join ISIS’: Priyamani on challenges of interfaith marriage

Priyamani made her acting debut in 2003 with a Telugu film and went on to achieve national recognition for her performances in Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi films. In 2017, after marrying producer Mustafa Raj, Priyamani faced significant cyber attacks and trolling. The couple was subjected to harsh ridicule as they prepared to celebrate their love marriage.

The primary reason for the online attacks was Priyamani’s decision to marry someone from a different faith. In a recent interview, Priyamani shared her thoughts on the matter. "When our marriage was announced, I thought I was sharing a joyful moment with those who love me. However, I couldn’t understand why there was such a hate campaign against us."

Priyamani continued, "Later, the 'Love Jihad' accusations began. People even said that if we have children, they would eventually join the terrorist organisation, ISIS. Although I am aware of the tendencies of people who make such comments, I found those remarks extremely troubling."

She further explained, "Being from the film industry, I understand that people may say anything about me, but why target someone who is away from all the limelight? You don’t even know who this person is. For two to three days, I received a flood of messages, and even now, if I post something with him, I get several comments related to our religion or caste."

However, Priyamani and her husband do not respond to such comments. She added, "We never react to such comments. There’s no point in feeding the trolls who only want to get a minute of fame."

Priyamani’s latest project is the film Officers on Duty. Last year, she appeared in the Telugu film Bhamakalapam-2 and the Hindi film Article 370. She is also set to star in Jana Nayagan, touted as the final film of actor Vijay before he enters full-time politics.