Ahaana Krishna questions why family is targeted over Diya Krishna’s controversy

Actor Ahaana Krishna has questioned the practice of dragging an entire family into controversies involving one member, amid the online backlash faced by her sister, influencer Diya Krishna, for supporting a North Indian influencer’s hate video referring to Fort Kochi. In an Instagram post, Ahaana said individuals should be held accountable for their own words and actions rather than having their family members drawn into the controversy.

“This is something I've been wanting to address for a long time,” she wrote, explaining that anyone who had a problem with something she had said or done should address her directly. Similarly, issues concerning statements made by her father, mother or any of her sisters should be taken up with the respective individuals.

Describing them as a close-knit family of six, Ahaana emphasised that each member had an independent mind, ideology, opinion and perspective. Being part of the same family did not mean they shared one collective opinion or were collectively responsible for one another's words and actions. She also clarified that their individuality did not diminish their unity, adding that they would always stand by one another and support each other irrespective of the circumstances.

Acknowledging that public figures would inevitably face criticism over their statements and actions, Ahaana said criticism and disagreement were part of being in the public eye. However, she questioned why an issue involving one person often became an opportunity to target the entire family. “Why does one person's opinion suddenly become a family's ideology?” she asked.

Ahaana also wondered whether bringing more familiar names into a discussion was sometimes driven more by a desire to gain attention than by an intention to make a point. She particularly objected to her marriage being brought into discussions that had nothing to do with it. Describing this as strange, she said that seeing people who spoke about being progressive and rational introduce personal and unrelated matters into a controversy said a lot. “Criticism is one thing; dragging unrelated aspects of someone's life into it is another,” she wrote.

Acknowledging that this pattern might not change overnight, Ahaana said she wanted to address it at least once. She stressed that holding someone accountable for their words and actions was different from making everyone associated with them answer for them.

Reiterating that her family stood together while its members continued to think, speak and act as individuals, Ahaana urged people to keep criticism focused on the person or issue concerned. “Disagree with any one of us if you must. But let the conversation be about the person or the issue at hand. Not everyone who shares a family bond needs to be pulled into it,” she wrote. “That, to me, is simply a matter of fairness,” she added.