Entrepreneur, designer and former Big Boss contestant Sobha Vishwanath had come under heavy criticism following her appearance as a judge at the British Malayali Miss Kerala Europe 2025 fashion show, held overseas. The controversy centred around a question posed during the event that sparked public outrage and online backlash.

Sobha, along with popular TV host Lakshmi Nakshathra, served on the judging panel of the event. During the Q&A segment, contestants were asked: “Do you prefer Manju Warrier or Kavya Madhavan?” — a question that has since triggered widespread debate and accusations of poor judgement.

Actor-director Dhyan Sreenivasan, who took the stage shortly after the incident, added fuel to the fire with a satirical remark aimed at the judges. “I thought the next question would be whether they preferred Dileep or Pulsar Suni,” he quipped, drawing laughter but also intensifying the controversy. A video clip of Dhyan’s comments quickly went viral, leading to an outpouring of criticism against both Sobha and Lakshmi on social media.

In response to the growing backlash, Sobha Vishwanath has issued a public statement. She alleged that the organisers had prepared the questions in advance and that neither she nor Lakshmi had a role in drafting them. “This was clearly an attempt to stir controversy for publicity. They’ve metaphorically smeared soot on our faces,” Shobha said.

“I see Dhyan as a brother, and such insensitive comments coming from him were painful,” she reiterated.

She further clarified that the event was a charity initiative and that she did not accept any payment for her participation. “I joined the show in good faith to support a charitable cause, not to be dragged into a publicity stunt,” she added.

The incident has ignited broader debate about the role of organisers and judges in public events – among culturally sensitive settings.