Actress Kashika Kapoor has voiced her strong opinion against the criticism South Indian actors face for their Hindi accent when working in Bollywood films. Speaking exclusively with IANS, Kapoor emphasized that an actor’s performance should be paramount, and language should never hinder their craft.
Responding to questions about judging actors based on their accent, Kashika stated, “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 highlighted the case of Rashmika Mandanna, who has openly shared her experiences of facing accent-related criticism, including during her appearance on ‘Koffee With Karan’. Despite this, Rashmika, known for her roles in ‘Animal’ and ‘Pushpa’, has consistently maintained her desire to work across various film industries and languages, embracing her natural South Indian accent.
Kashika firmly believes that Rashmika, a “wonderful actor and performer,” does not deserve such judgment. “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 asserted, urging for a focus on talent over linguistic nuances.