Thug Life, the highly awaited Tamil film of 2025, is days away from its on-screen release on June 5. Mani Ratnam directs the film, which has Kamal Haasan in the lead role. The film’s recent trailer, which created excitement and drama, has also raised some eyebrows. A short kissing scene between Kamal Haasan and Abhirami had some netizens criticizing it based on the apparent difference in their ages.

Abhirami Defends Scene and Director’s Vision
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Abhirami addressed the backlash, stating that public criticism is inevitable in today’s digital age. She emphasized that she had no right to question director Mani Ratnam’s vision or casting decisions. Speaking about the scene in question, Abhirami clarified, “The kissing scene is a three-second kiss! The reality that what was revealed in the trailer alone is somewhat misleading. As you view the film, it encompasses so well within the story.

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Kamal Haasan: A Bold Storyteller
She also said the scene came into focus presumably because Kamal Haasan is known to depict intimacy in a truthful and realistic manner, referencing his performance in Hey Ram. Abhirami complimented Haasan as a brave storyteller who is not hesitant to address subjects which are bold, yet tend to create public debates.

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Abhirami added that onscreen intimacy is something that is increasingly becoming the norm and feels audiences will become more accepting with time.