Actor Rashmika Mandanna has once again stirred the hornet’s nest. This time with her own roots. The actor, in a recent interview, made a comment about her cultural background, which has snowballed into a controversy, earning criticism not just from fellow artists but from within her very own Kodava community.
In the statement that sparked it all, Rashmika claimed, "No one from the Kodava community has entered the film industry before me. I believe I’m the first." What might have seemed like a self-congratulatory nod to her journey ended up rubbing many the wrong way, especially those from the Kodava community, a proud ethnic group hailing from Karnataka's Coorg region, with deep roots in everything from sports to cinema.
Actor Nidhi Subbaiah, one of the prominent Kodava names in Kannada and Hindi cinema, was quick to respond with a measured but pointed comment. "It might’ve been a joke, but just because she said it doesn’t make it true." She went on to celebrate veteran actress Prema, calling her a "superstar" and reminded everyone that stars like Reshma Naniah and herself are living proof of the community’s legacy in cinema.
Tanisha Kuppanda, didn’t mince her words. While she praised Rashmika’s talent but added, "If that’s true, Rashmika must be two decades old." She listed Daisy Bopanna and Harshika Poonacha as more examples of celebrated Kodava actors. "Some people want to talk about Kannada sometimes, and other times about their hometowns, just to appear perfect. But in doing so, they end up contradicting themselves," she said.
A thinly veiled dig at Rashmika’s earlier Hyderabad-centric identity claims, which also didn’t sit well with Kannadigas earlier this year.
Adding her voice to the conversation, actor Harshika Poonacha shared a note online. "Maybe Rashmika meant she’s the first Kodava to reach No 1 in Telugu or Hindi cinema. But the Kodava community doesn’t judge, we’ve had legends like Field Marshal Cariappa, Prasad Bidappa in fashion, and icons across sports, politics, and yes, cinema. Rashmika just needs to think a little before she speaks. We all make mistakes. Let’s not cancel, let’s correct."
The controversy has now gone viral, with #NotTheFirst and #KodavaPride trending across social media. Many fans from Karnataka and beyond have expressed disappointment, calling for more awareness and acknowledgment from celebrities representing diverse communities.
Whether this was a simple slip-up or a case of misinformed pride, one thing is clear: the Kodava community remembers its stars.