Actor Asif Ali has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding Mohanlal starrer 'L2: Empuraan', urging audiences to view cinema as entertainment. He cautioned against the excessive influence of social media, stating that such platforms often escalate issues unnecessarily.

“"A three-hour film should be viewed purely as entertainment. It is up to us to decide how much influence a film should have. That decision should be in our hands. Whether it’s cinema or our surroundings, we have the power to choose what influences us.... Those who lack the courage to express their opinions openly resort to hurling stones while staying anonymous, and social media is just another version of that," Asif Ali said.

He also expressed solidarity with those facing cyber harassment, emphasizing that "only those who experience it can truly understand its impact."

The controversy over Empuraan, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, has intensified, leading to the decision to remove certain contentious scenes from the film. Actor Mohanlal recently addressed the issue, expressing regret over the situation.

"As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my films promote hatred towards any political movement, ideology, or religious group," Mohanlal expressed in a social media post. Following this, the makers removed certain scenes from the movie. 

'Empuraan', the second part of the 'Lucifer' movie, a trilogy planned by the Prithviraj-Mohanlal team, has become a topic of hot debate over its critique of right-wing politics and the covert mention of the Gujarat riots.