Actor Regena Cassandra questions bias, alleges KJo didn't promote her in Kesari 2

Actor Regena Cassandra has criticised attempts to frame discussions about the objectification of women in cinema as a North-South issue. Reacting to comments by Janhvi Kapoor and Radhika Apte about their experiences in Telugu films, Regena said actors could refuse roles or leave projects that made them uncomfortable.Regena also alleged that Karan Johar and Dharma Productions sidelined her during the promotions of Kesari Chapter 2 despite her prominent role in the film. She said her name was left out of promotional material, and she was not tagged in social media posts for a song featuring her.Speaking about her experience exclusively with India Today, Regena said, "The same Karan Johar, in a Dharma Productions film that I have done, called Kesari 2, decided not to promote me in the film. What am I supposed to call this? Is this because I'm a South Indian? I wasn't given a reason. Why wasn't my name added?"The 35-year-old said she had also faced prejudice while working in the North. "I faced a lot of stigma when I acted in the North. I face stigma because I'm a South Indian actress. My Hindi is good, and I can act," she said. Regena was responding to comments made by Janhvi about the Telugu film Peddi and by Radhika about working opposite an older male actor in a Telugu film. She said both actors had the agency to refuse such roles or walk out of projects if they felt uncomfortable.She said she had not watched the relevant episode of Koffee With Karan, but objected to broad statements about South Indian cinema. "I haven't watched that episode of Koffee With Karan. I have a big issue when a North Indian actor talks about South Indian cinema in that way. You're creating a North-South divide. I'm saying this as a South Indian actress," she said. Regena further alleged that Dharma Productions did not acknowledge her even when it released a song featuring her as part of the film's promotions. "They released a song which featured me and posted it. I wasn't given a single tag," she added.The Evaru actor added that Radhika and Janhvi were not the only actresses to have worked opposite older male actors or been cast in objectified roles. According to Regena, actors had the right to leave projects they were uncomfortable with, and such concerns could be addressed without framing the discussion along regional lines.Regena will next be seen in Nayanthara's Mookuthi Amman 2. It is the sequel to the 2020 Tamil devotional comedy Mookuthi Amman, which starred Nayanthara as the titular goddess. The sequel is directed by Sundar C and produced by Ishari K Ganesh.- Ends