Actor Regina Cassandra has entered the growing debate surrounding Janhvi Kapoor’s comments about her portrayal in the Telugu film Peddi, questioning how discussions about uncomfortable experiences on film sets are being handled. She has also cautioned against comments that could create further divisions between the Hindi and South Indian film industries.
Speaking in an interview with India Today, Regina said actors should feel confident enough to refuse scenes or leave projects when they are uncomfortable with how their characters are being presented. She argued that performers should exercise their choices during production rather than raise concerns only after a film has been completed.
Her remarks follow Janhvi’s recent appearance on Koffee With Karan Season 9, where she discussed the criticism surrounding her character in Peddi. The controversy has also gained attention after actor Radhika Apte spoke about an uncomfortable experience from her earlier work in Telugu cinema.
Regina Cassandra says actors should have the choice to walk away
Regina made it clear that she supports women speaking openly about their experiences. However, she questioned whether actors in influential professional positions should describe themselves as having no choice when they are unhappy with a scene or character.
She suggested that performers should communicate their objections directly and, where necessary, refuse to continue with a project.
Regina also discussed the practical differences she has experienced between working in Mumbai and in the Tamil and Telugu film industries. According to her, Hindi film sets in Mumbai often provide more detailed call sheets, including shooting schedules, scene numbers, technical crew information and other production details.
She explained that practices can vary across productions, with some actors receiving scenes only on the morning of filming, while others are provided with complete printed scripts.
Her comments brought attention to the importance of communication between actors, directors and production teams, particularly when scenes involve sensitive character portrayals.
Why Regina objected to the North-South comparison
One of Regina’s strongest concerns was the possibility of turning individual experiences into criticism of an entire regional film industry.
Responding to Janhvi’s comments about Telugu cinema, Regina said she had a problem with the way a North Indian actor discussing South Indian cinema could unintentionally contribute to a regional divide.
She explained that she was speaking from the perspective of someone who has worked in South Indian films as well as Hindi cinema.
Regina said she welcomed conversations about women’s experiences but believed they should be approached carefully, without creating unnecessary hostility between industries.
Her comments have added another perspective to the discussion, which now involves questions about actors’ responsibilities, production practices and the portrayal of women on screen.
Regina brings up her experience with Kesari Chapter 2
During the same interview, Regina also discussed her experience with Dharma Productions’ Kesari Chapter 2, starring Akshay Kumar.
The actress claimed that despite playing an important role as Akshay Kumar’s wife, she was not adequately included in the film’s promotional activities.
She questioned why her name was missing from promotional material and said a song featuring her throughout was released without tagging her on social media.
Regina also expressed disappointment that nobody had informed her about the song’s release.
She raised the possibility of whether her treatment had any connection to her background as a South Indian actress, although she did not establish that this was the reason for the alleged omission.
Her account introduced another aspect of the wider discussion: how actors are acknowledged and represented when films are marketed to audiences.
These remain Regina’s personal claims about her experience.
Janhvi Kapoor’s Peddi controversy explained
The discussion began after Janhvi Kapoor addressed the criticism surrounding her character, Achiyamma, in Peddi, directed by Buchi Babu Sana and starring Ram Charan.
During her appearance on Koffee With Karan, Janhvi acknowledged that the portrayal had raised legitimate concerns about the sexualisation and objectification of women.
She admitted that she could have been more vigilant during filming and taken a stronger position when she became uncomfortable with certain aspects of the character’s presentation.
Janhvi also explained that actors sometimes rely on directors’ instructions and may not always know precisely how scenes will eventually appear on screen.
She said the experience had made her reflect on the responsibility she carries as an actor, particularly when a portrayal could have a negative impact on women.
Her comments brought renewed attention to questions about how female characters are written, filmed and presented in mainstream cinema.
Radhika Apte’s remarks add another perspective
The discussion has also involved Radhika Apte, who recently spoke about a challenging experience from her earlier career in Telugu cinema.
While promoting her series Akka alongside Keerthy Suresh, Radhika recalled a film in which her character had to marry a maternal uncle and romance a considerably older actor.
She described the experience as difficult, particularly because of the patriarchal circumstances surrounding the character.
Although Radhika did not identify the film during the interview, some media reports and social media users linked her description to the 2014 Telugu film Legend. That identification should be treated as speculation rather than a confirmed statement from the actress.
Her comments have further expanded the conversation about women’s experiences in regional cinema and the creative decisions made when developing female characters.
A wider conversation about representation in Indian cinema
The separate experiences shared by Janhvi, Radhika and Regina have brought several issues into the spotlight.
These include the importance of clear communication before filming, the ability of performers to raise objections, the responsibility of filmmakers when presenting female characters and the treatment of actors during film promotions.
Regina’s intervention also raises an important distinction between discussing problems within a production and making generalisations about an entire film industry.
Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam cinema each have different production environments, creative approaches and working practices. Experiences on one film set cannot automatically represent the working conditions of every production.
For audiences, the discussion offers a closer look at the professional decisions and challenges that can shape how women are represented in Indian films.
The debate is now moving beyond one film or one actor, with questions about representation, professional accountability and regional perceptions becoming part of the wider conversation.
1. Why did Regina Cassandra criticise Janhvi Kapoor’s Peddi remarks?
Regina questioned the way Janhvi’s comments about Telugu cinema could contribute to a North-South divide. She said individual experiences should be discussed without generalising about an entire film industry.
2. What did Regina Cassandra say about actors leaving films?
She said actors who feel uncomfortable with a scene or character portrayal should consider refusing the work or leaving the project.
3. What did Janhvi Kapoor say about Peddi?
Janhvi acknowledged that her character’s portrayal involved problematic objectification and admitted she could have raised her concerns more firmly during production.
4. What did Regina Cassandra allege about Kesari Chapter 2?
She claimed that despite playing Akshay Kumar’s wife, she was left out of promotional activities and was not tagged when a song featuring her was released.
5. What did Radhika Apte say about Telugu cinema?
Radhika recalled a challenging Telugu film role involving a marriage to her character’s maternal uncle and a romance with a much older actor.
6. Who stars in Peddi?
Peddi stars Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor. The film is directed by Buchi Babu Sana.
7. What is the North-South divide debate in Indian cinema?
It refers to discussions and disagreements involving regional film industries, particularly Bollywood and South Indian cinema, over representation, filmmaking practices and cultural perceptions.
