Bengaluru, March 3 — A heated controversy has erupted in Karnataka after actress Rashmika Mandanna declined an invitation to attend the Bengaluru Film Festival, with local political figures and activists accusing her of disrespecting her Kannada roots. Mandanna, who hails from Kodagu district in Karnataka, is facing criticism for allegedly identifying herself as being from Hyderabad and for comments she made about the state in the past.
Mandya MLA Ravi Kumar Gowda, popularly known as Ravi Ganiga, was among the most vocal critics. He expressed outrage over Mandanna's failure to acknowledge her connection to Karnataka. "Rashmika Mandanna started her career in Karnataka, making her debut in the Kannada film Kirik Party. Last time she was invited to the Bengaluru Film Festival, she claimed to be based in Hyderabad," said Ganiga during a media interaction.
The MLA further accused the actress of neglecting her Kannada identity, saying that she had once stated that she did not know where Karnataka was located. "Despite repeated invitations, she refused to attend the festival, citing a lack of time, and spoke rudely about Kannada culture," Ganiga remarked. He added that a local MLA had personally visited her home to extend the invitation, only to be met with dismissiveness.
Ganiga’s anger was palpable as he questioned whether Mandanna should be “taught a lesson” for her alleged behavior. In a bold move, the MLA threatened to write to the Karnataka Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, urging them to reconsider subsidies for the Kannada film industry if such disrespect continued.
Adding fuel to the fire, T.A. Narayana Gowda, convener of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, also joined the chorus of criticism. Gowda reminded Mandanna that she was a Kannadiga by birth, despite her growing fame in the Telugu film industry. "You bloomed here. If you forget your Kannada heritage after achieving success in other languages, it raises questions about your loyalty to the state," he said, referring to the actress’s alleged self-identification as a daughter of Andhra Pradesh.
The remark "Meer Sadiq," a reference to the infamous betrayer in Tipu Sultan’s court, was used by Gowda to emphasize his discontent with Mandanna's attitude. "No matter how big you become, you must always show respect and pride for the culture and language of Karnataka," he added, calling on the actress to remember her roots.
The controversy also aligns with growing discontent within the ruling Congress party over the poor turnout at the Bengaluru Film Festival. On Saturday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar warned the local film fraternity, asserting that the government could withhold support and permissions, making it difficult to produce films if such issues persisted.
As tensions rise, it remains to be seen how the actress, who continues to make waves in the Indian film industry, responds to these growing calls for accountability.
Last updated by a enewsx:
