Regina Cassandra Says Dharma Productions Ignored Her in Kesari 2 Promo, Warns of North‑South Film Rift

Regina Cassandra said Dharma Productions omitted her from Kesari 2 promotional posts and warned that north‑Indian actors’ remarks on south cinema fuel a regional divide. She told India Today that if an actor feels uncomfortable with a film’s portrayal they should walk out when they can, adding that no one should be forced to stay in a project against their wish. Regina clarified she is not targeting men or women, but would naturally side with women on such issues. She recalled that Kesari 2’s song was shared on Instagram with her appearing throughout, yet the post did not tag her, calling the omission “strange” and questioning whether it was a form of objectification for being South‑Indian. Regina linked the incident to Janhvi Kapoor’s recent comments on being objectified on Karan Johar’s Koffee With Karan, noting that the same Dharma‑produced film failed to promote her. Janhvi, who starred opposite Ram Charan in the Telugu film Peddi, described the camera work that highlighted her body as “violating” and admitted she could have used her privilege to push back. Radhika Apte, speaking on Zoom, recalled a Telugu movie where she played a woman married to her maternal uncle, calling the role “the most challenging” and saying she hated everything about it. All three actors’ remarks expose tension between Bollywood’s north‑Indian market and the South‑Indian film industry, a split that can affect casting, promotion and audience perception.

Context

The Indian film industry is split between Bollywood in the Hindi‑speaking north and vibrant regional studios in the south, each with its own stars, language and market. Disagreements over representation often spark debates about equal respect and promotion across these zones.