Modi-Mohanlal meeting sets off speculations

Thiruvananthapuram: Close on the heels of the news about Malayalam matinee idol Mohanlal meeting prime minister Modi, social media went abuzz with speculations about the actor being made 'BJP's candidature from Thiruvananthapuram".

The posts got more tempo with Modi's tweet praising Mohanlal, and some national media also making it a story.

But those close to the superstar were quick to dismiss the rumours. Mohanlal himself has not given any response, but only said that he met the prime minister to invite him to a function of the Vishwa Shanti Trust which he led.

The meeting was soon used by social media bugs to make Mohanlal a prospective Lok Sabha candidate. While circles close to Mohanlal discounted the speculations, many in the film world came out condemning the move to portray Lal as BJP's candidate. Mohanlal who is now in Thiruvananthapuram in connection with the shooting of the film "Lucifer" directed by actor Prithviraj, stopped short of making any response in public.

Even the BJP's state leadership, who have been asserting that the party will have a strong candidate in Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency, did not endorse the proapaganda about Mohanlal being made a candidate.