Rashmika Mandanna is facing backlash after claiming she is the "first" actress from Coorg to enter the film industry. In a recent interview with Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story, Mandanna discussed the resistance she faced from her family when she decided to pursue acting. She stated, "Conversations back home when I got my first paycheck weren't easy. Because, you know, in the Coorg community, nobody has ever entered the film industry. I think I am the first one in our whole community to have entered the industry. People were extremely judgy". She further remarked that her community was "extremely judgmental" about her career choice.
These comments quickly sparked criticism online, with many social media users pointing out that several other actors from Coorg have made significant contributions to Indian cinema long before Mandanna. Social media users cited prominent Kodava actors such as Neravanda Prema, Nidhi Subbaiah, and Harshika Poonacha.
Veteran Kannada actress Neravanda Prema, a leading actress during the 1990s and early 2000s, responded to Mandanna's statement, stating, "What is there for me to say? The Kodava community knows the truth". She also noted that Shashikala, another actress from Coorg, had acted in supporting roles before her.
Other actors from the Kodava community also responded to Mandanna's claim. Nidhi Subbaiah commented, "It might've been a joke, but just because she said it doesn't make it true. Prema is the superstar from our community". Harshika Poonacha suggested that "Maybe Rashmika meant she's the first Kodava to reach No 1 in Telugu or Hindi cinema… but she just needs to think a little before she speaks". Tanisha Kuppanda also weighed in, stating that if Mandanna's claim were true, "Rashmika must be two decades old" and listed Daisy Bopanna and Harshika Poonacha as other examples of celebrated Kodava actors.
The online criticism included comments from disappointed fans, with one user stating, "Rashmika maybe you are the only one who thinks u made it big. Yes definitely but u have also forgotten Gulshan Devaiah too has made it big". Another user wrote, "She is not the first frm kodava community ...before that many artist have acted like prema, nidhi subbaih, harishika poonacha, tanisha kuppanda".
Mandanna has yet to respond to the backlash. Her comments have led to the trending of hashtags like #NotTheFirst and #KodavaPride on social media. This isn't the first time Mandanna has faced backlash for her comments. She previously received criticism for stating she feels more from Hyderabad than from Coorg.
