The debate over Bollywood actresses’ comments on South Indian cinema has taken another turn. After Janhvi Kapoor’s remarks about Peddi and Radhika Apte‘s comments on Telugu cinema, actress Regina Cassandra has questioned the North-South divide, bringing up her own experience with Bollywood producer Karan Johar.
Regina recalled her experience with Kesari Chapter 2, in which she played Akshay Kumar’s wife. Despite having an important role in the film, she alleged that Dharma Productions sidelined her during the promotions. She claimed that her name was removed from the promotional activities without any explanation. Even though a song featuring her was released, she was not tagged in the promotional post.
Regina Cassandra questioned whether this treatment was because she was a South Indian actress. She also pointed out the irony of a North Indian filmmaker like Karan Johar drawing a distinction between North and South cinema while speaking about the South Indian film industry.
Her remarks bring another dimension to the ongoing debate. While actresses from Bollywood have spoken about their experiences in South Indian films, Regina is now asking whether the same industry that questions regional divisions follows equal practices when it comes to promoting its own actors.
The discussion around Peddi has now moved beyond Janhvi Kapoor and Radhika Apte’s comments. Regina’s allegations have brought the question of regional bias in Bollywood promotions into the conversation.
