Kashika Kapoor Defends Rashmika Mandanna Over Accent Criticism, Says Language Should Never Be a Barrier

Mumbai: Actress Kashika Kapoor has spoken out against the criticism faced by South Indian actors over their Hindi accents when working in Bollywood, saying that an artist's talent and performance should matter more than the language they speak.

In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Kashika was asked about the tendency to judge South Indian performers for their accents when they take up roles in Hindi films. She stressed that cinema should not be divided along linguistic or regional lines.

"I think this happens quite often, but an actor should ultimately be recognised as a performer. Language should never become a barrier. We shouldn't divide the industry by saying this is the Telugu film industry or this is the Hindi film industry," she said.

Kashika's comments come amid renewed attention to Rashmika Mandanna's experience of facing criticism over her accent. During an appearance on the television show 'Koffee With Karan', Rashmika revealed that she had encountered such remarks throughout her career but never allowed them to discourage her from working across different film industries and languages.

The 'Pushpa' actress explained that her South Indian background naturally influences her accent. She also expressed her desire to explore opportunities in multiple languages rather than restrict herself to a single film industry.

Coming to Rashmika's defence, Kashika said the actress should not be subjected to unnecessary judgement over something that is part of her cultural and linguistic identity.

"Everyone is working hard and delivering some incredible performances. Take Rashmika Mandanna, for example. She is a wonderful actor and performer, and I don't think anyone should judge her based on her language or accent. That is also a part of her identity and what makes her unique. Her roots are there, but at the end of the day, it is her performance that matters. She has been part of some huge films, including 'Animal', and is doing some great work. Actors should be appreciated for their talent rather than judged for their accents," Kashika said.

Her remarks highlight the importance of linguistic diversity in Indian cinema, where actors increasingly work across regional film industries and language barriers continue to be challenged by pan-Indian productions.

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