Noted lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has come out in support of Rashmika Mandana after she faced criticism online over her Hindi pronunciation.
However, his attempt to defend her also led to discussion of her linguistic roots, prompting her to accept corrections made by social media users.
Akhtar called out those criticizing Rashmika’s accent on social media and challenged them to recite a few lines in Tamil before judging someone else’s language skills.
“Those who have a problem with Tamil actress Rashmika’s pronunciation should be given a few lines of Tamil which is the oldest spoken language in the world and let’s see how well she pronounces Tamil. This fake and baseless linguistic superiority is not acceptable,” he wrote on X.
Those who have problems with Tamil actress Rashmika’s pronunciation should be given some lines of Tamil which is the oldest spoken language in the world and let’s see how well she pronounces Tamil. This artificial and baseless linguistic excellence is not acceptable.
— Javed Akhtar (@javedkhatarjadu) October 25, 2026
While many users appreciated Akhtar’s support for the actor, some pointed out that Rashmika is a Kannadiga with roots in Kodagu, Karnataka rather than a Tamil actor.
One user reacted to his post and wrote, “Uh Kodagu and Telangana Telugu Kodalu sir. But appreciate your support for linguistic minorities in this country.”
Akhtar accepted the correction and replied, “I’m right.”
@DexterousRd I’m fine.
— Javed Akhtar (@javedkhatarjadu) October 25, 2026
Another user highlighted Rashmika’s background and her work in South Indian film industries. “Even Javed Saab, despite his support, seems oblivious to South Indian nuance. Rashmika is a Kannadiga (from Coorg) and works in all South Indian languages, reflecting the richness of our diverse cultures!” Read the comments.
A third user agreed with Akhtar’s broad point but also corrected his identification of the actor’s native language.
“Your heart is in the right place but your recognition of the actress’ mother tongue is not. Your point is well taken though. That’s all that matters,” the user wrote.
Another comment described Rashmika as a “Kannada actress working predominantly in Telugu films”.
The discussion also drew a light-hearted response from a user who thanked Akhtar for supporting Tamil by pointing out common misconceptions about South Indian languages.
“Thanks for supporting the Tamil language. I’m still laughing because he might be from the era where everyone in the south was called ‘Madrasi’. Yes, Tamil is one of the oldest languages if not the oldest,” commented the user.
Rashmika has established herself in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi cinema, along with her work in several film industries. The actor has faced online scrutiny over his accent, with the latest criticism following his appearance Koffee With Karan Season 9Where she was seen with her husband Vijay Deverakonda.
Also Read: Ranabali Box Office Collection Day 9: Vijay-Rashmika Film Crosses Rs 50 Crore Mark In India, Earns Rs 70 Crore Worldwide