One of the "National Crush" of India, Rashmika Mandanna has made a giant splash in the Kannada film, Telugu film, Hindi cinema films and has been among the biggest and most beloved female movie stars. But her meteoric ascent to superstardom has been marred by heavy public dissent and institutional infighting. And while she remains one of the box office stars with hits like Pushpa and Animal, many high-profile controversies have threatened to overshadow her professional successes.
Here's a close-up look at key controversies in the form of public persona of Rashmika Mandanna.
The Kannada Film Industry and the 'Kantara' Row
The single biggest controversy in Rashmika's career has centred around her relationship with the Kannada film industry (Sandalwood), in which she received her debut in Kirik Party.
- 'Ungrateful' Label: The Kannada audience has branded Rashmika since some years as too ‘forgotten her roots.’ Tensions came to the highest point when she said in an interview that she hadn’t seen the blockbuster Kantara, directed by her first director, Rishab Shetty.
- The Gesture Controversy: In an interview, Rashmika used “air quotes” or hand gestures when referencing the production house that propelled her, but those gestures were viewed as disrespectful by many.
- Rumors of a Ban: Later in 2022 and early 2023, rumors surfaced that the Kannada Film Exhibitors Association was considering a ban on her films. Rashmika would later explain that “the world doesn’t know what happens inside” and denied that she was officially banned.
Deepfake Video Scandal 2023-2024
In late 2023, Rashmika became the focal point of a national debate on AI ethics when a deepfake video of her went viral. The video, showing her face superimposed over the body of an influencer, inspired the actress to speak up about the “extremely scary” handling of technology. Following the above high police probe and arrest of the first accused, we were forced to take the lead in reviewing and re-examining Indian IT regulations on AI-generated content by 2024.
Backlash Over 'Animal' and Toxic Masculinity (2025)
Rashmika faced backlash after the controversial film Animal and criticized for her role as Gitanjali.
- The “Fixing” Men Narrative: In 2025 she’ll be in talks with journalist Barkha Dutt to date a character like Ranbir Kapoor’s “Ranvijay” in real life, she said: “love can lead to change, that’s what I get behind the concept.”
- Public response: The social media users and detractors dismissed her remarks as “naive” and “problematic,” accusing her of forwarding the toxic notion that women are to be blamed for “repairing” abusive or misogynistic men.
The "First Kodava Woman" Claim (2025)
Rashmika got herself in hot water in mid-2025, in her own community. In a conversation, she insisted she's the "first woman from the Kodava community to enter the film industry." She was fact-checked quickly by netizens, who mentioned older actresses like Prema, Nidhi Subbaiah and Harshika Poonacha, who preceded her by decades. That sparked accusations (among others) that she had disregarded her seniors’ legacy.
Political Friction: The “Teach Her a Lesson” Incident (2025)?
One of the biggest political controversy broke out in 2025 when Karnataka Congress MLA Ravi Ganiga accused Rashmika of not attending the Bengaluru International Film Festival. The MLA claimed that she dismissed her home state, saying, “I don't know where Karnataka is.”
The Fallout: The statement that she should “be taught a lesson,” brought the Kodava National Council to a standstill looking for security for the actress, indicating risks to her safety. The MLA had later said he meant "life lessons" rather than physical harm.
Nonetheless, Rashmika Mandanna is one of the most bankable stars of India. She managed to weather these stormy seas while building an enormous fanbase, this one of "National Crush" that she still wears as she reaches into 2026.
