18 September,2026 07:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Rashmika Mandanna. Pic via Instagram
Rashmika Mandanna has addressed the comments she receives over her accent and language, saying she chooses to concentrate on her work rather than respond to criticism. Born and brought up in Kodagu (Coorg), the actor's mother tongue is Kodava Takk, a language that does not have a major film industry of its own. The actor recently suffered a hip injury while filming a dance sequence for her next, Mysaa.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Rashmika said she does not pay attention to what she described as "unnecessary chatter". According to the actor, her priority is to tell good stories and give her best performance on every project. "As an actor, my job is to tell good stories on set and come back. With every film, I believe the best of us are there to create something magical," she said.
Rashmika added that she does not like responding to criticism or "stepping on someone's toes", choosing instead to focus on her own performance. "I don't like stepping on someone's toes; I just focus on giving my best performance as an actor," she said.
The Pushpa actor also opened up about her command over multiple languages. Rashmika admitted that she is "not necessarily good" at any one language and described herself as a "Jack of all trades and master of none".
For the actor, however, being able to communicate with people in their language is what matters. She said she considers her job done if she can connect with people and communicate with them in the language they speak.
Rashmika also spoke about her Kodava background and how language has never been a hurdle in her acting career. She credited her fans, whom she refers to as her "family", with encouraging her to explore opportunities beyond Kannada cinema, including Telugu and Hindi films.
"So language has never been a barrier in my career. I treat all languages as my own," she said, adding that her journey grew through the opportunities she received across industries.
Rashmika made her acting debut with the Kannada film Kirik Party in 2016. She entered Telugu cinema with Chalo in 2018, followed by her Tamil debut Sulthan in 2021 and Hindi debut Goodbye in 2022.
Since then, the actor has established a multilingual career, moving between Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi projects. Her comments come as she continues to work across different film industries while navigating the scrutiny that comes with being a pan-India actor. Rashmika will next be seen in Mysaa, which will release in theatres on November 27, 2026.
