Mumbai, March 3, 2025: Congress MLA Ravikumar Gowda Ganiga has criticized actress Rashmika Mandanna for allegedly refusing to attend the Bengaluru International Film Festival when invited last year. Mandanna, who is currently riding high on the success of Chhaava, has been accused of distancing herself from Kannada cinema and culture.
Speaking to the media at Vidhana Soudha, Ganiga claimed that Rashmika needed to be “taught a lesson” for her actions.
“Rashmika Mandanna, who started her career with the Kannada film Kirik Party in Karnataka, declined our invitation to the film festival. She allegedly said, ‘I have my house in Hyderabad, I don’t know where Karnataka is, and I don’t have time.’ Is this how she repays the industry that gave her a start?” Ganiga stated.
He further alleged that a legislative colleague visited her residence multiple times to invite her, but she repeatedly refused and ignored Kannada cinema despite her roots in the industry.
Mandanna also faced criticism for her remarks at a Chhaava promotional event, where she reportedly said:
“Because I’m from Hyderabad, and I have come alone, today I hope I am a part of all of your family.”
This statement disappointed many of her Kannada fans, who felt she was distancing herself from her hometown of Coorg, Karnataka and her early career in Kannada cinema.
While Rashmika debuted in Kirik Party (2016) alongside Rakshit Shetty, it was her work in Telugu films like Geetha Govindam, Dear Comrade, and Sarileru Neekevvaru that catapulted her to stardom. She gained nationwide recognition with Pushpa: The Rise, starring opposite Allu Arjun.
Despite the controversy, Rashmika continues to enjoy blockbuster success. Her latest film, Chhaava, a historical action drama, has become India’s highest-grossing film of 2025, raking in over ₹600 crore worldwide.
She will next be seen in Sikandar, an action thriller alongside Salman Khan, directed by AR Murugadoss and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. The film is set for an Eid 2025 release.
