Rashmika Mandanna On Ban From Kannada Industry: ‘World Doesn’t Know What’s Happening Inside’

Amidst ongoing buzz surrounding her personal life and professional commitments, actress Rashmika Mandanna has addressed rumors about a potential ban from the Kannada film industry. The actress, currently promoting her upcoming film "Thamma," starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, has been the subject of controversy related to her comments about her early career in Kannada cinema.

The controversy began a while back when Rashmika refrained from naming Paramvah Studios, the production house co-founded by Rakshit Shetty that launched her career with the film "Kirik Party". During an interview, she gestured with air quotes while referring to the production house, which many perceived as disrespectful. This, coupled with comments about not having watched Rishab Shetty's "Kantara" shortly after its release, led to a wave of criticism and speculation about a possible ban.

Addressing these rumors during a recent interaction with Good News Kannada, Rashmika clarified her stance. When asked if she had watched "Kantara: Chapter 1" and shared her thoughts with the team, she responded, “See, the thing is… I didn't see the film in the first 2-3 days since its release. I didn't see it right then, but I recently watched it and even texted the team. They even replied with a 'Thank you' response too”. She also said that she has nothing but love for those who troll her and justified that she was asked if she had seen the film only two days after its release, and by then she hadn't.

Regarding the rumors of a fallout with the Kannada film industry, Rashmika stated, "See, the world doesn't know what is happening on the inside. Inside, god knows we can't always put a camera on our personal lives. Also, we aren't those people who share our messages online. So, what people say about a person's life doesn't matter. Now, what they say about our professional life, we'll consider it and work on it". She emphasized the importance of not being affected by external opinions and clarified, "So far, I have not been banned. So, yeah…”.

In the past, fans of Rishab Shetty and Rakshit Shetty have demanded that Rashmika be banned for looking down on the Kannada film industry. Rishab Shetty had also expressed his displeasure, stating that he doesn't like heroines who use gestures to recall the production house that launched them. Some have accused her of being ungrateful and disrespecting her Kannada roots.

Despite the controversies, no official ban has been issued, and Rashmika's films have continued to perform well. She has stated that she is ready to work in Kannada cinema if she gets offers, but until now, she has been busy with other languages. She has also made it clear that she will always respect Kannada cinema because that's where she's from and added that she congratulated the cast of Kantara and they replied positively to her. "I leave it to people how they want to understand and react. I can't keep proving my point by showing what's happening inside,” she added.

Rashmika's career has seen her transition to Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil cinema after her Kannada debut. Her last Kannada film, "Pogaru," was signed before the controversy began. She has faced considerable trolling and criticism, with some accusing her of betraying Rakshit Shetty by calling off their engagement. However, industry insiders suggest that some Kannada film producers and associations may find it difficult to accept her success in other languages.

The actress remains one of the most talked-about stars in the country, balancing her work in multiple film industries.