The 69-year-old Indian actress trolled for ‘too sexy’ photos
When Rajini Chandy posted pictures from her glamorous photoshoot on Facebook recently, she didn't anticipate they would go viral and attract vicious trolls. The photos show the 69- year- old housewife-turned-actress, who's generally seen in colourful elegant saris, dressed in a jumpsuit, long dresses, a pair of distressed jeans, and a short denim dress. In some, she's wearing a crown of fresh white flowers.
Described as "bold and beautiful" by the local press in Kerala, where she lives, the photoshoot has raised the hackles of many in a state where most women dress modestly in saris or long skirts.
The photoshoot, Mrs Chandy said, was the idea of Athira Joy, a 29-year-old photographer. Ms Joy said what attracted her to the actress was how she was so different from her own mother. "Indian women," she says, "spend their lives caged in this system of marriage and raising a family. Most give up on life once they reach 60. They become nannies to their grandchildren."
"But Rajini is different - she takes care of herself, she's fit, she's bold, she's beautiful, she's fashionable."
Mrs Chandy has always stood out. In the past few years, she's made news for her "unconventional choices" - in 2016, at the age of 65, she debuted as an actress in the Malayalam-language comedy-drama, Oru Muthassi Gadha (A Granny's Mace).
Mrs Chandy says she did the shoot to motivate older people to believe they can still enjoy their life. "Most young couples spend their youth bringing up children. They put their own desires on the backburner and then they realise they are too old to chase their dreams because they're worried what would society say. I believe it's okay to do whatever you want as long as you're not hurting anyone," she says.
"I've fulfilled all my family and social obligations and now I'm just doing what brings me pleasure. I'm learning to play the drum, I'm just having fun."
The photoshoot was meant to be fun too. "Athira asked me if I'd be interested in doing a photoshoot and whether I had any inhibitions wearing Western clothes. I said no," Mrs Chandy said. She found Athira's proposal interesting - during her travels abroad, she says, she'd always admired older women who were well turned out.
The set of 20 photographs was taken at Mrs Chandy's home in Kochi. Bouquets, and brickbats, began arriving once the photos went up on Facebook and Instagram last week and the local press picked them up.
There were appreciative comments - people wrote in saying "you've proved age is just a number"; many described her as "bold", "stunning", "hot" and "beautiful"; many complimented her for her "confidence".
But soon, the backlash started. "I was called a slut. Someone asked me, 'Haven't you died yet?' Another suggested that I 'sit at home and read the Bible. This is your age to pray, not show off your body'. Yet another person said I was an old rickshaw and even if I got a new coat of paint, I'd still be old."
She admits that the relentless trolling and the negative comments are getting to her. And the fact that most of the abuse has come from women. "I'm really outspoken so maybe a lot of people don't like me. But I tell them, instead of wasting your time on me, why don't you use your energy to do a good turn for your country or the world or Mother Earth?"