Veteran actors Mallika Sukumaran, Lakshmipriya resign from Malayalam film body
Malayalam actors Mallika Sukumaran and Lakshmipriya resigned from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) following Shweta Menon’s exit. The latest demand for new leadership has further intensified the internal turmoil of the association.
The crisis in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) deepened on Monday (June 22, 2026) with actors Mallika Sukumaran and Lakshmi Priya resigning from its primary membership. The latest resignations come a day after actor Shweta Menon, the association’s first woman president, along with the entire executive committee, resigned following a stormy general body meeting in Kochi.
Ms Sukumaran said in a social media post that she stood by Menon and was leaving the association in solidarity with him. Actress Asha Aravind, who was part of the previous committee and was included in the ad-hoc committee formed on Sunday, also expressed her desire to step down after criticism over her inclusion in the new panel.
❮❯
The 17-member executive committee had decided to resign as a section of the association was planning to move a no-confidence motion against the leadership in the general body meeting. The leadership was accused of failing to run the daily affairs of the organization and being unable to resolve disputes within the body.
Ms Lakshmipriya, who served as vice-president on the executive committee, alleged that some members had come to the general body meeting with an agenda. He also rejected allegations that the Executive Committee had to step down because it was unable to present proper financial statements at the meeting.
During this time, Drishyam Actor Ansiba Hassan called for a new leadership for the association. “A new leadership led by actors like Kunchacko Boban, Prithviraj, Asif Ali and Dhyan Srinivasan should lead the association,” he said, adding that the organization needs a group of people who can listen to the issues of the members with empathy.
“The new committee will have to take the initiative to bring the actors, including the survivors (in case of actor attack) back into the fold of the association,” he said.
Haasan, who had resigned as joint secretary in February 2026 after accusing actor Tiny Tom and a section of members of defaming his character and making communal remarks against him, said he had got justice as the general body meeting had realized that the Shweta Menon-led executive committee was not fit to continue.
With the resignations of Sukumaran and Lakshmipriya and fresh demands for new leadership, the turmoil within AMMA has intensified.