Javed Akhtar Clarifies Rashmika Mandanna's Linguistic Background

Javed Akhtar has apologized for mislabeling Rashmika Mandanna as a 'Tamil' actor, after being corrected by netizens who clarified her linguistic roots. The veteran lyricist defended the actor after she faced online trolling over her Hindi pronunciation. Akhtar, however, mistakenly referred to her as a Tamil actor, which led to backlash. He acknowledged the error in a tweet, stating he doesn't know her personally and had only seen her work in Tamil films. "I am sorry I was wrong," he wrote, adding that linguistic diversity should be celebrated. Rashmika, who works in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi, addressed the criticism during an interview, emphasizing her commitment to speaking multiple languages. The incident highlights the sensitivity around regional identities in Indian cinema.

Photo: Vikas Tanwar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · adapted

Photo: Bollywood Hungama · CC BY 3.0 · adapted

Reporting: Indian Express

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