Indian superstar Mohanlal has apologised to fans in Sydney after a visa delay forced the cancellation of a stage show in Australia.
In a video message recorded in Singapore, the veteran Malayalam actor said he was deeply disappointed after failing to receive his Australian visa, describing it as the first time in his nearly five-decade career that he had been unable to obtain a visa for a scheduled performance.
Mohanlal said he did not want to blame anyone for the situation and suggested the delay may have resulted from a technical or clerical issue.
“I am taking all the blame on myself. I am telling you that it is my fault. I am very sorry about it.”
The Sydney event had been planned with a large team, including acclaimed playback singer K S Chithra, who had already travelled to Australia.
Mohanlal said organisers and his team had made extensive efforts to resolve the visa issue and proceed with the show.
“Everyone with me, including K S Chithra, is there. But I don’t know, somehow it happened,” he said.
The actor also apologised to fans who had travelled long distances to attend the performance.
“To each one of you who drove from far away and came to watch this show, I apologise from the bottom of my heart.”
Mohanlal said he was particularly upset because the event had been developed as a special concept and his team had worked hard to bring it to Sydney.
He also promised fans that the show would return to Sydney with the same team.
“I promise that we will come back with the same team and do a wonderful show in front of you.”
The cancellation left organisers facing significant disruption, with performers, crew and audiences already prepared for the Sydney performance.
Mohanlal, who has worked in the Indian film industry for almost 50 years, said he had performed at shows in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland earlier this year.
The actor did not provide details about his visa application, saying he would not go into whether the issue was technical, clerical or potentially related to an AI-generated error. He ended his Instagram message by again expressing regret to Sydney audiences and asking them to accept his apology.
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