Prithviraj Sukumaran directed and acted in the Lucifer sequel, Empuraan, which also starred Mohanlal. The film went on to become one of Malayalam cinema’s highest-grossing movies. When the film was released, it faced backlash over its alleged portrayal of the 2002 Gujarat riots, which took place during Narendra Modi's tenure as the state’s Chief Minister. Now, the actor has finally addressed the controversy.

Prithviraj Sukumaran on Empuraan controversy

In an interview with Manorama News, he clarified, “If I want to express my politics, I can do it on social media. I am not making this film to express my political opinions," he said. He then questioned, “I don’t need to invest crores to make a film about my political stance. In today's digital age, issuing a statement on social media is often sufficient. As long as I am honest with myself, and I have that conviction within me, I do not think I need to be afraid of anyone.”