Aishwarya Lekshmi says she picked peace of mind over Instagram earnings

Aishwarya Lekshmi walked away from Instagram about a year ago, and she is still not going back. In a recent interview, the actress said the break that started as a temporary step has turned into a settled decision, and she has no intention of reversing it.

The pressure to return has come from inside her own camp. She said her PR team and managers pushed her to rejoin the platform, warning that staying off it would shrink her earnings. She chose her peace of mind instead, saying she preferred mental peace over money and has felt calm and settled since she logged off.

What drove her out was the daily weight of it. She spoke about toxic messages and mindless trolling that used to leave her stressed, along with AI generated content, vulgar edits and the constant demand to perform online. Reading comments and private messages over and over began to warp how she read public opinion, and she recalled feeling as though everyone was against her.

She is clear about the cost. Staying offline can mean fewer brand deals and less professional visibility, and reports say her managers and agents have kept encouraging a comeback for exactly that reason. Her answer is that brands willing to work with her without social media promotions are still welcome, and the rest can pass.

Life away from the feed has been warmer than she expected. She said she is happier and more comfortable in real world interactions now, and that fans have started sending her handwritten letters, something she values a great deal. She would rather her films decide who she is than a timeline.

On the work front, her recent credits include Gatta Kusthi 2, and she continues to line up projects across languages. Telugu audiences will see her next in Sambarala Yeti Gattu with Sai Dharam Tej, which is being readied for a Sankranthi 2027 release.