Actress Rashmika Mandanna has been enjoying a string of back-to-back successes in her film career over the past few years. However, the Pushpa actress is now facing backlash for a recent remark in which she claimed to be "probably the first" actor from the Coorg community to enter the film industry. Her statement has sparked discontent among members of the Kodava community .

Rashmika Mandanna's remark about being the first actress from Coorg
In an interview with Mojo Story, Rashmika said she might be the first person from her community to join the film industry. “Conversations back home when I got my first paycheck weren’t easy. Because, you know, in the Coorg community, nobody has ever entered the film industry. I think I am the first one in our whole community to have entered the industry. People were extremely judgy,” she said.

Neravanda Prema 's reaction
Kannada actress Neravanda Prema, widely known for her work across Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam films, addressed the controversy. Speaking to Koduga Express, she stated, “What is there for me to say? The Kodava community knows the truth. You should ask her (Rashmika) about her version of the statement.”
Prema further added that even before she entered the industry in the early 1990s, there was an actress named Shashikala from Coorg who played supporting roles. She also acknowledged that many other talented actors from the Kodava community have made their mark in the industry after her entry into showbiz.
Social media reaction
Rashmika’s statement triggered a wave of reactions on social media, with several users criticising the actress for seemingly being unaware or dismissive of her predecessors. One user commented, “She is not the first from the Kodava community... Before her, many artists have acted, like Prema, Nidhi Subbaiah, Harshika Poonacha, and Tanisha Kuppanda.”