Rashmika Mandanna, aka beloved ‘Crushmika,’ is ruling both Bollywood and South cinema like an absolute queen! But, the internet is buzzing for all the wrong reasons. The actress has found herself in the eye of a storm after reports claimed she refused to attend the Bengaluru International Film Festival. If that wasn’t enough, there were even whispers that she made some not-so-flattering remarks about the festival and the state. There’s more to this story!
Did Rashmika Mandanna Really Say No?
Before we jump to conclusions, let’s clear the air – these rumors are as fake as those WhatsApp forwards. A source close to Rashmika has slammed all these claims, stating that the actress was never even approached about the festival, let alone refusing to attend it.
“This bears reference to certain news reports alleging that Rashmika refused to attend the Bengaluru Film Festival and made derogatory statements about it and the state. The said news reports are completely false and do not have any element of truth,” revealed the source.
The insider continued, “The statements attributed to Rashmika Mandanna and the entire story about someone approaching Rashmika Mandanna and her refusing to attend the Bengaluru film festival are incorrect. This statement is being issued for placing the correct facts on record and for quelling any false narratives”.
Rashmika, who hails from Karnataka, has always been vocal about her love for her roots, and this controversy seems to be nothing but a storm in a teacup!
Karnataka MLA’s Fiery Statement – Should Rashmika Be ‘Taught A Lesson’?
While Rashmika’s camp is clearing the air, Karnataka Congress MLA Ravikumar Gowda has his own views. He alleged that the actress had turned her back on Kannada cinema and even claimed that she had said, “I don’t know where Karnataka is, I don’t have time. I can’t come.” Did she really say that? Because that sounds like a whole lot of drama!
The MLA went on to add that a fellow legislator personally visited Rashmika’s house 10-12 times to invite her to the festival, but she reportedly refused to attend. In a fiery statement Ravikumar Gowda said, “Rashmika Mandanna, who started her career with the Kannada movie Kirik Party in Karnataka, refused to attend the International Film Festival last year when we invited her. She said, ‘I have my house in Hyderabad, I don’t know where Karnataka is, and I don’t have time. I can’t come.’ One of our legislator friends visited her house 10-12 times to invite her, but she refused and even disregarded Kannada, despite growing up in the industry here. Shouldn’t we teach them a lesson?.”
You can never separate goon from Rahul Congressman.
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar ?? (@RajeevRC_X) March 3, 2025
This pompous overblown #Karnataka MLA from constitution waving @RahulGandhi 's party, wants to "teach a lesson" to an actress.
I want to tell @DKShivakumar and @siddaramaiah to read up constitution – every citizen including… https://t.co/RV27NtFWqL
Naturally, this didn’t sit well with Rashmika’s fans, who are defending their queen tooth and nail. While some believe stars should acknowledge their roots, others are calling out the MLA for his aggressive remarks. The controversy has quickly turned into a full-blown debate on regional pride, personal choices, and the expectations we place on public figures.
Politics, Cinema & Controversy
As if things weren’t already dramatic enough, the BJP has now entered the chat! The party was quick to slam the Congress for targeting Rashmika over her alleged remarks and emphasized that politicians should stick to their constitutional duties instead of policing actors. The issue has now spiraled into a heated debate over how much influence politics should have in the entertainment industry.
Rashmika, on the other hand, has remained completely unbothered, choosing to stay focused on her career instead of feeding into the chaos.
Rashmika’s Power-Packed Lineup
While the internet is busy debating, Rashmika is all set to dominate the silver screen with back-to-back blockbusters. She’s kicking off 2025 with ‘Chhaava’ opposite Vicky Kaushal, hitting theatres on February 14. Then, she’s diving into Maddock’s horror-comedy ‘Thama’ with Ayushmann Khurrana. Next, she’s got ‘Pushpa 3,’ ‘Kubera’ with Dhanush, and ‘Sikandar’ with none other than Salman Khan.
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Also Read: When Ranbir Kapoor Made Rashmika Mandanna Cry – But Not How You Think!
