📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Bollywood Hungama
Entertainment
Madhoo reflects on 35-year path to South Indian identity, hails Rashmika Mandanna
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 27 Oct 2026, 03:38 AM
👁 15
Veteran actress Madhoo said it took her three and a half decades to fully accept her South Indian roots and praised fellow star Rashmika Mandanna for her work.
Madhoo, who rose to fame in the early 1990s with films such as "Phool Aur Kaante" and several South Indian productions, told Mid‑Day that her journey to embrace a South Indian identity spanned 35 years. She explained that growing up in a multilingual household, she initially identified more with her Hindi‑film background before gradually connecting with the culture of the southern states.
The actress highlighted that exposure to regional cinema, language, and traditions over the decades helped her feel a genuine belonging to the South Indian film fraternity. She said the shift was not abrupt but evolved through collaborations, travel, and personal relationships within the industry.
During the same conversation, Madhoo praised contemporary actress Rashmika Mandanna, noting her versatility and the fresh energy she brings to South Indian screens. Madhoo described Rashmika as a role model for younger artists and commended her for bridging linguistic markets with ease.
Madhoo’s reflections come at a time when many senior actors are revisiting their cultural roots, underscoring the growing appreciation for regional diversity within Indian cinema.
The actress highlighted that exposure to regional cinema, language, and traditions over the decades helped her feel a genuine belonging to the South Indian film fraternity. She said the shift was not abrupt but evolved through collaborations, travel, and personal relationships within the industry.
During the same conversation, Madhoo praised contemporary actress Rashmika Mandanna, noting her versatility and the fresh energy she brings to South Indian screens. Madhoo described Rashmika as a role model for younger artists and commended her for bridging linguistic markets with ease.
Madhoo’s reflections come at a time when many senior actors are revisiting their cultural roots, underscoring the growing appreciation for regional diversity within Indian cinema.