Jyothika has once again sparked debate with her strong statement about the South Indian film industry. At a recent event, she remarked that film posters in the South mostly highlight the heroes, leaving little space for the heroines. She said this shows how actresses are sidelined during promotions.
To explain her point, Jyothika shared personal examples. In Bollywood, Ajay Devgn shared the poster of her Hindi film Shaitaan on his social media, giving her equal importance. In the Malayalam film Kaathal: The Core, Mammootty also shared posters featuring both of them, which she felt showed respect.
But she admitted that in the South industry, despite working with leading heroes, she has rarely experienced such gestures. She said no star hero has ever shared a poster that highlights the heroine, which she finds disheartening.
Her comments soon went viral and sparked debate on social media about the value given to women actors in South cinema. Many praised her for speaking out, while others criticised her. Among Tamil fans, some said she is ungrateful. A user wrote that Jyothika gained her fame and fortune in the South, married into the industry, and enjoyed its benefits, yet now criticises it to please the North.
The clash of opinions reflects how sensitive gender representation in cinema remains. Jyothika’s words may sound harsh to some, but they have reignited an important discussion about the space and respect given to heroines in South Indian films and their promotions.
