Sadiaa Khateeb Slams ‘The Kerala Story 2’, Calls It a Film That “Sells Hatred”

Actor Sadiaa Khateeb has strongly criticized the makers of The Kerala Story 2, calling the upcoming film a piece of “propaganda” that promotes division and hatred. The Shikara and Raksha Bandhan actor shared a detailed note on Instagram expressing her objection to the film’s teaser and urging filmmakers to act with greater responsibility.

Khateeb, who made her Bollywood debut with Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Shikara, reacted sharply to the teaser of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond. In her Instagram story, the actor said the way certain communities are portrayed in the film is “deeply insulting” and harmful. Born in Doda, Jammu & Kashmir, she wrote that the project encourages division under the guise of cinema and awareness.

Produced under Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s banner, The Kerala Story 2 is a sequel to the controversial 2023 film The Kerala Story. Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, the sequel is scheduled for theatrical release on February 27, 2026. The film claims to be inspired by true events and its teaser revolves around three women allegedly deceived into religious conversion through marriage.

In her note, Khateeb accused the film of spreading hate in the name of entertainment. “As a Muslim, and more importantly as an Indian, I feel disgusted and insulted,” she wrote. She added that society’s silent acceptance of such narratives is equally troubling. “Propaganda upon propaganda. Hatred and fear are being carefully packaged and served in the name of cinema and awareness,” she stated.

The actor further argued that repeatedly portraying an entire community as villains or terrorists has deep psychological consequences. She alleged that hatred is being normalized and systemically circulated. “Hatred sells. Propaganda spreads faster than truth. But how far will this go? Is there an end?” she questioned.

Calling the trend a form of social conditioning, Khateeb wrote that the impact of such storytelling extends beyond cinema halls. According to her, it influences classrooms, workplaces, and everyday social interactions. “This is not cinema — this is conditioning,” she wrote, stressing that filmmakers carry a responsibility because of the powerful influence of the medium. She urged creators to choose stories that unite rather than divide.

The original The Kerala Story, released in 2023, had also sparked intense controversy over its claims and portrayal of events. Courts had directed the makers to modify certain elements following allegations of misinformation. Despite the backlash, the film performed exceptionally well at the box office, earning ₹241.74 crore and emerging as a major commercial success.

Several prominent voices from the film industry, including Naseeruddin Shah and Kamal Haasan, had criticized the first installment, accusing it of pushing a specific agenda. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also alleged at the time that the film was an attempt to tarnish the state’s image.

The teaser of the sequel features actors Ulka Gupta, Aishwarya Ojha, and Aditi Bhatia, and outlines the story of three Hindu women with different aspirations whose marriages to Muslim men allegedly lead to forced religious conversion — a theme that has already reignited debate ahead of the film’s release.