Malayalam superstar Mohanlal was in Kochi, Kerala, as part of a flood relief campaign organised by his NGO ViswaSanthi Foundation, when a news reporter from a leading Malayalam daily asked him to react on the ongoing protests by Kerala nuns fighting the sexual abuse case against Bishop Franco Mulakkal.

Hearing the question, an annoyed Mohanlal, snapped at the reporter and asked him why unnecessary questions are been asked in the event.

"Aren't you ashamed to ask such unnecessary questions to me? There are various important things which are going on here. What is the relationship between these activities and nun abuse? You can ask other things related to flood relief activities. You should understand that a grave disaster has happened in Kerala. When I am saying something, you are asking the nun issue," Mohanlal told the reporter on Saturday.

Later, Mohanlal has issued his apology for his behaviour. In a recent Facebook post, the Mollywood superstar asked the reporter to take his words lightly and requested the journalist to forget about the incident.

"Even after one night, the incident remains in my heart, and that is why I have decided to write this. If my words have hurt the reporter, I hereby convey my apologies. You should leave the matter by thinking that the words were delivered from the mouth of an elder brother. My words were not intended to hurt anybody or any particular organization. It is my responsibility to answer your questions," wrote Mohanlal on Facebook.

Mohanlal's apology came after netizens criticised him on social media for his reply to the ongoing agitation by the nuns in Kochi, seeking justice for the nun allegedly raped by the Bishop. The nun had accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016.

On the work front, Mohanlal is now busy with his new Tamil movie, which is directed by KV Anand. Tamil hero Suriya is also playing another crucial role in this movie.