Rashmika Mandanna’s Remark on Being ‘first from Coorg in films’ Triggers Backlash on Social Media

Kodagu Express Bureau
Jul 3
2 min read

'Prema was a superstar before you were born,' say social media users as Rashmika faces backlash over Coorg claim. Photo Courtesy: Instagram

Madikeri: Kodagu-born actor Rashmika Mandanna has come under fire on social media following a statement she made in a recent interview, where she claimed to be the first person from the Coorg (Kodava) community to enter the film industry.

In a conversation with senior journalist Barkha Dutt on the Mojo Story YouTube channel, Rashmika said, “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.” When asked whether she faced judgement for her career choice, the actress added, “extremely judgmental.”

The comments have not gone down well with many on social media, who pointed out that several prominent actors from Kodagu, particularly from the Kodava community, have made significant contributions to the film industry long before Rashmika’s debut.

One Instagram user, samrathasringeri, commented, “Prema the legend, Nidhi Subbaiah, Harshika Poonacha etc etc wru dude. Ur PR Team is very brilliant give such topics to talk and get publicity.”

Many netizens highlighted the legacy of Kodava actor Neravanda Prema, who was a leading name in the Kannada film industry during the 1990s and early 2000s. Known for her commercially successful roles, Prema won many awards including prestigious Karnataka State Film Award and Filmfare Best Actress awards and also acted in Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam films. Another user, apocalypto_245, wrote, “Prema was a super star even before you were born madam.”

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Social media users also named several others from Kodagu who have made their mark in the industry, including Nidhi Subbaiah, Gulshan Devaiah, Daisy Bopanna, Shubra Aiyappa, and Harshika Poonacha.