Rashmika Mandanna Addresses South Indian Accent Criticism on Koffee With Karan 9

Actor Rashmika Mandanna has addressed the criticism she has received regarding her South Indian accent in Hindi cinema, stating that she never viewed it as a problem because it is an intrinsic part of her identity. During an episode of Koffee With Karan Season 9, Mandanna discussed these comments with host Karan Johar, alongside her career decisions and her approach to selecting diverse roles.

When Karan Johar asked if the accent criticism had bothered her, Mandanna responded, "I particularly didn’t have an issue with that because they said I had a South Indian accent, but I’m from the South of India. So I am going to have an accent." This statement highlighted her acceptance of her linguistic background.

Mandanna further elaborated on her career philosophy, explaining her consistent willingness to work across different film industries and learn various languages. She noted that since the beginning of her career, she has encountered both criticism and praise concerning aspects of her performances, including her acting, language proficiency, and accent. Despite this, she affirmed her resolve not to allow these opinions to create barriers to the professional opportunities she pursued.

She articulated her stance, stating, "Ever since I started working in the film industry, I’ve been criticized or praised for one thing or the other, like either my performance, or the language, or the acting, or just the accent, or anything. So for me, I never wanted to sort of put a barrier for myself. I didn’t want to just work in one industry. I wanted to work in them all. I didn’t want to speak just one language. I wanted to speak all languages. And so very early on in my career, I started doing all kinds of films."

Regarding dubbing, Mandanna revealed that she consistently offers her directors the option of using another artist for her voice if they prefer. However, she noted that none of her directors have chosen this, opting instead for her to dub her own performances. She expressed that this ability to dub in multiple languages is a source of pride and provides her with significant satisfaction as an actor.

Beyond the discussion of her accent, Mandanna also spoke about her choices in roles, pointing to the contrasting characters she has portrayed in films such as *Pushpa*, *The Girlfriend*, and *Ananya*. She expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to play different kinds of characters and her desire for her filmography to showcase this range. "So today, when I am a part of a brilliant film like Ananya, and The Girlfriend, it gives me great satisfaction as an actor, you know? Because I’m like, I’m able to play them all," she said.

Mandanna's decision to work across languages and embrace diverse roles has been a conscious one. As she conveyed to Karan Johar, she has actively explored opportunities across various industries, refusing to let criticism about her accent limit her choices, and instead embracing her linguistic identity.

What to watch: Rashmika Mandanna's continued pursuit of diverse roles across various film industries.

Editor's note: Accurately captures the source details regarding Mandanna's interview on Koffee With Karan 9.