Previously Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar too had criticised the Kannada film industry for not attending the film festival.
Published Mar 04, 2025 | 3:09 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 04, 2025 | 3:09 PM
Rashmika Mandanna. (X)
Karnataka Congress MLA Ravikumar Gowda Ganiga on Monday, 3 March, alleged that actor Rashmika Mandana has disregarded the Kannada language, and declined the invitation to attend the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFF).
Claiming that Rashmika said that she does not know where Karnataka is, the MLA said, “should be taught a lesson.”
Speaking to the media, he 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?”
However, on Tuesday, 4 March, following criticism, speaking with the news agency ANI, MLA Ravi said, “It is not Rashmika’s statement but Rashmika’s team’s statement. We will release the document (proof) publicly that we had invited Rashmika to the film festival (Bengaluru Film Festival) but she refused.”
Bengaluru | On actor Rashmika Mandanna, Karnataka Congress MLA Ravikumar Gowda says, ” It is not Rashmika’s statement but Rashmika’s team’s statement. We will release the document (proof) publicly that we had invited Rashmika to the film festival (Bengaluru Film Festival) but she… pic.twitter.com/pVX3YjTyWl
— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2025
Previously DK Shivakumar too had criticised the Kannada film industry for not attending the film festival. Speaking with the audience at the film festival, he said, “If the Kannada film industry doesn’t show up for a prestigious event like BIFFes, then who will? And why should we even hold such a festival if those it’s meant for aren’t part of it?”
He had also reportedly warned, “If we don’t give permissions then films cannot be shot. We know when to tighten the nuts and bolts.”
The comments garnered criticism from the BJP, with the former minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar calling out the MLA, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Taking to X, he wrote: “You can never separate goon from Rahul Congressman. This pompous overblown #Karnataka MLA from constitution waving Rahul Gandhi’s party, wants to “teach a lesson” to an actress. I want to tell DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah to read up constitution – every citizen including actress hv rights and dont forget ur goon MPA has obligations to respect law and rights of citizens. If he wants a “lesson” in constitution, I/we will be happy to “teach” this goon – free of charge -anytime,anyplace Call me!”
You can never separate goon from Rahul Congressman.
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
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) March 3, 2025
