Rashmika Faces Backlash for Calling Hyderabad Her Hometown

Actress Rashmika Mandanna's recent comments have triggered outrage among Kannada people. Rashmika, who hails from Virajpet in Karnataka’s Kodagu district, made her film debut with the Kannada movie Kirik Party. She later entered the Telugu film industry with Chalo and quickly rose to prominence with consecutive hits, becoming a star heroine in Tollywood. Additionally, she has made her mark in Bollywood, acting in multiple Hindi films alongside Telugu and Tamil projects.
However, a statement she made at a recent event in Mumbai has gone viral, igniting controversy. Speaking at the event, Rashmika expressed her happiness over the love and support she receives, saying, “Even though I am from Hyderabad, the affection shown towards me here makes me very happy.” This remark has become a hot topic in Karnataka, with many Kannada-speaking people criticizing her for allegedly disregarding her roots.
Social media users from Karnataka questioned her statement, asking when Virajpet became part of Hyderabad. Many netizens expressed disappointment, accusing her of hesitating to acknowledge her hometown when speaking at events in other cities.
This is not the first time Rashmika has faced backlash from Kannada audiences. In the past, she was criticized for omitting the name of the production house that gave her a break in the film industry. During an interview, Rashmika recalled that she was noticed by filmmakers after winning a beauty pageant as a student, which led to her debut as a heroine. However, she did not mention Paramvah Studios, the production company behind her first film, which angered Kannada cinema fans. At the time, social media campaigns even called for a boycott of her films.
Rashmika has previously faced multiple instances of online trolling from Kannada audiences, and her recent comments have once again put her in the spotlight for similar reasons.