Mumbai: Actor Rashmika Mandanna has addressed the criticism she has faced over her South Indian accent in Hindi cinema, saying she has always viewed it as part of her identity rather than a limitation. During an appearance on Koffee With Karan Season 9, the actor spoke to host Karan Johar about working across film industries, dubbing in multiple languages and choosing roles that showcase her versatility.
When Karan asked whether criticism of her accent had bothered her, Rashmika explained that she had never considered it a problem because she was from southern India.
“I particularly didn’t have an issue with that because they said I had a South Indian accent, but I’m from the South of India. So I am going to have an accent,” she said.
Her response reflected her approach to working in different linguistic industries without feeling compelled to hide her regional identity. Rather than allowing comments about her accent to influence her career choices, Rashmika said she had wanted to explore opportunities across industries and learn different languages from an early stage.
‘I wanted to work in them all’
Reflecting on her career, Rashmika said she had received both criticism and praise for various aspects of her performances, including her acting, language and accent. However, she did not want these opinions to restrict the kinds of films she pursued.
“Ever since I started working in the film industry, I’ve been criticized or praised for one thing or the other, like either my performance, or the language, or the acting, or just the accent, or anything. So for me, I never wanted to sort of put a barrier for myself,” she said.
The actor added that she had always wanted to work across film industries rather than confining herself to one. She also wanted to speak multiple languages, which encouraged her to take up projects in different linguistic markets early in her career.
“I didn’t want to just work in one industry. I wanted to work in them all. I didn’t want to speak just one language. I wanted to speak all languages. And so very early on in my career, I started doing all kinds of films,” she added.
Rashmika has built a career spanning several Indian film industries, appearing in projects that have required her to adapt to different languages and performance styles. Her comments on the show highlighted her belief that an actor’s regional background need not become an obstacle to working in other parts of the country.
Rashmika on dubbing for herself
The actor also discussed the effort involved in dubbing her own performances in different languages. She said she routinely gives directors the option of having another artist provide the voice if they feel it would better suit the film.
According to Rashmika, however, her directors have chosen to retain her voice in the films she has worked on.
“Every film that I’m a part of, of course, I go and give this option to my directors, saying I’m not the one who’s going to feel bad if you want to dub with someone else, you know? But none of my directors actually wanted to dub with someone else. They wanted me to dub for myself,” she said.
Rashmika described the experience as a source of satisfaction, acknowledging the work required to deliver dialogue in multiple languages while remaining faithful to a character’s emotions and performance.
For actors working across linguistic boundaries, dubbing involves more than translating dialogue. It requires adapting delivery, pronunciation and emotional expression to suit the language and the character. Rashmika’s comments suggested that she sees the opportunity to dub for herself as an important part of her work across industries.
Her willingness to take on that responsibility also reflects her broader approach to language: rather than treating it as a barrier, she has continued to explore ways to connect with audiences through her performances.
Choosing roles that showcase different sides
Beyond the discussion about her accent, Rashmika spoke about her choice of characters and her interest in exploring contrasting roles. She referred to films including Pushpa, The Girlfriend and Ananya while discussing the satisfaction she gets from playing different kinds of characters.
The projects represent the range she wants her filmography to reflect, allowing her to move between different characterisations rather than being associated with a single screen persona.
“So today, when I am a part of a brilliant film like Ananya, and The Girlfriend, it gives me great satisfaction as an actor, you know? Because I’m like, I’m able to play them all,” she said.
For Rashmika, this variety is an important part of her development as a performer. Her comments indicated that she values opportunities to experiment with different roles and demonstrate her range, while continuing to work in multiple languages.
Embracing identity while expanding her career
Rashmika’s remarks on Koffee With Karan Season 9 underline her decision to approach criticism of her accent without treating it as a reason to limit her ambitions. She acknowledged that public opinion has followed her career, but said she has remained focused on exploring new opportunities.
Her position also raises a broader question about linguistic identity in Indian cinema, where actors frequently move between industries with distinct languages, accents and cultural contexts. Rashmika’s response was straightforward: her South Indian accent is a natural part of who she is, and she does not believe it should prevent her from working in Hindi films or elsewhere.
By continuing to take on multilingual projects, dubbing for herself where directors prefer it and choosing contrasting characters, the actor said she has found satisfaction in the range of work she can undertake.