Janhvi Kapoor has spoken up about the backlash she has been facing for her accent and portrayal in her upcoming film Param Sundari. The actress, who stars opposite Sidharth Malhotra in the romantic drama, explained that her character is not entirely Malayali, as some critics assumed, but a mix of Tamil and Malayali heritage.
Since the release of the trailer, several performers and viewers from Kerala, including actor-singer Pavithra Menon and content creator Steffi, voiced disappointment over Janhvi’s casting.
Addressing the criticism during a discussion with ET Digital, where Sidharth Malhotra and producer Dinesh Vijan were also present, Janhvi shared what drew her to the project. “I was at a point in my life where I myself, more than an actor, but as a member of the audience, was dying for just a rom-com. A light-hearted romantic movie where you have a smile on your face the entire time you are watching. Here was a story that gave me the chance to go towards my roots,” she said.
Janhvi further clarified, “Of course, I’m not a Malayali, and neither was my mother, but my character is actually half-Tamilian and half-Malayali. I’ve always been very interested in that terrain and that culture, and I’m also a huge fan of Malayalam cinema as well. So yeah, I think it was just a very fun, interesting story, and I’m so happy and grateful that I could be a part of it.”
Directed by Tushar Jalota, Param Sundari explores a cross-cultural romance between a boy from Delhi and a girl from Kerala. The film also stars Rajeev Khandelwal and Aakash Dahiya in key roles and is slated to release in theatres on August 29.