Regina Cassandra has weighed in on the debate surrounding Janhvi Kapoor’s comments about her portrayal in Peddi and Radhika Apte’s experience working in Telugu cinema. While the actor said women should be able to speak openly about uncomfortable experiences, she questioned how the discussion was being framed, warning that it could deepen the North-South divide.
Regina also brought up her own experience with Kesari Chapter 2, alleging that Dharma Productions did not adequately acknowledge her during the film’s promotional campaign. The actor played Akshay Kumar’s wife in the courtroom drama and questioned why she was left out of promotional posts despite appearing in the film.
Regina Cassandra Says Actors Should Walk Away If Uncomfortable
In an interview with India Today, Regina said actors should have the freedom to leave a project if they are uncomfortable with how their characters are being portrayed. Reacting to Janhvi’s account of the Peddi controversy and Radhika’s recollections, she argued that established actors should be able to make their concerns known.
“I feel like at the end of the day, if they feel uncomfortable, please walk out of the film,” Regina said, adding that the discussion should not be framed as a conflict between men and women.
She also clarified that she supports women speaking about their experiences, but believes the conversation should focus on the specific circumstances rather than generalising about an entire film industry.
She Questions Karan Johar Over Kesari 2 Promotions
Regina connected the broader debate to her own experience during the promotions of Kesari Chapter 2, produced by Dharma Productions. She alleged that the production house did not tag or properly acknowledge her, despite her role in the film and her appearance in a song released as part of its promotional campaign.
“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 you even realizing it,” she said.
Regina then referred to Janhvi’s comments about objectification, questioning the contrast between that discussion and her own experience of being left out of the promotions.
“Janhvi has spoken about being objectified on Karan Johar’s show, the same Karan’s Dharma Productions decided not to promote me in their film Kesari 2. Now, what am I supposed to call that?” Regina said.
Her remarks were directed at the promotional treatment she says she received. Dharma Productions’ alleged decision not to feature or tag her remains her account of the incident.
What Janhvi Kapoor and Radhika Apte Said
Janhvi discussed the controversy around her character in Peddi during an appearance on Koffee With Karan. She said she could have been more vigilant about how certain scenes were filmed and acknowledged that the portrayal was problematic. She also spoke about the challenges of not always knowing how scenes would eventually be presented on screen.
Radhika Apte, meanwhile, recalled working on a Telugu film in which her character was married to her maternal uncle. She described the experience as difficult and said she disliked aspects of the role. Radhika did not name the film in the interview.
The comments prompted a wider discussion about women’s representation, working conditions and creative control in South Indian cinema.
A Debate About Representation and Industry Divisions
Regina’s response has added another perspective to the conversation, bringing promotional visibility and recognition into a debate initially focused on onscreen portrayal. Her comments underline that representation can extend beyond a character’s treatment in a film to how performers are acknowledged in the industry.
At the same time, the discussion raises questions about how individual experiences should be addressed without turning them into a broader regional dispute. Regina has urged actresses to speak up, while cautioning against framing criticism of specific projects as criticism of an entire industry.
