‘Was it because I’m South Indian?’: Regena Cassandra calls out Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions – Here’s why
New Delhi: Actress Regena Cassandra has raised questions about Dharma Productions and its promotional campaign for Chapter 2. She claimed that the production house ignored her during the film’s promotions, despite her playing the female lead opposite Akshay Kumar.
In an interview with India Today, Regena spoke about not being featured or tagged on Dharma Productions’ official social media pages. She also questioned whether her South Indian background had anything to do with the way she was treated.
Regena Cassandra calls out Karan Johar’s production house
Regena said she was unhappy with the way Dharma Productions handled the promotions of Kesari Chapter 2. She pointed out that she played an important role in the film but was missing from the production house’s social media promotions. She also brought up comments made by Janhvi Kapoor on Koffee With Karan 9 about feeling uncomfortable with objectification. Regena questioned the difference between such conversations and the way she was treated during the promotions of the film.
“Janhvi Kapoor has spoken about being objectified on Karan Johar’s show,” Regena pointed out. “[Yet] the same Karan’s Dharma Productions decided not to promote me in their film Kesari Chapter 2. Now, what am I supposed to call that? Objectifying what?,” she said.
The actress also wondered whether her South Indian identity had played a part in the decision to leave her out of the promotional campaign.
During the interview, Regena also spoke about comments made by and Radhika Apte about the treatment of women and the working environment in South Indian films.
She said she did not agree with the way North Indian actors sometimes spoke about the South Indian film industry. According to Regena, such comments can create an unnecessary divide between the two industries. “I really have a big issue with when a North Indian actor talks about South Indian cinema like that, because you’re making a North South divide without even realizing it and that’s absolutely wrong,” she said.
Regena Cassandra shares her views on actors speaking up
Regena also shared her opinion on actors who speak about feeling uncomfortable with their roles or the way female characters are shown in films. She said actors should use their choices and leave a project if they are unhappy with the work.
“At the end of the day, if they feel uncomfortable, please walk out of the film. I don’t think we should be put in a place where we say we didn’t have a choice,” she said.
She further added that established actors have the freedom to turn down projects if they do not agree with something. “I don’t think either of them are in a position where they can’t walk out of a project, especially being who they are. If you are uncomfortable, walk away if you have the option.”
Meanwhile, Regena is preparing for her upcoming film Mookuthi Amman 2. Neither Karan Johar nor Dharma Productions has publicly responded to her claims about the promotion of Kesari Chapter 2.
Written By Uditi Sharma!