Bollwood actress Kareena Kapoor was all praise for the South Indian film industry, as reported by Mid-Day. Speaking to reporters at the launch of Sony BBC Earth in India, she said, “I truly respect all south films. They have great content. I respect and admire them. There are great actors from Pawan, Rajinikanth sir to Mammooty sir. There is so much great work being done in Telugu or Malayalam films.”
Despite her enthusiasm for the industry, Kareena doesn’t see herself acting in a south film. “I don’t understand the language and so I feel the connection will not be there. That’s the only problem,” she said.
It’s a valid reason. Still, many actresses from Mumbai, Delhi, and even Punjab are regarded as superstars in the industry. Just ask Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Taapsee Pannu, or Pooja Hegde. The same can be said of actresses down south who made waves in the Hindi film industry, such as Sridevi, Asin, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ileana D’cruz, Rekha, and Hema Malini.
But Kareena was quick to point out that she did work with a South Indian director, even though she hasn’t acted in a South Indian film. “One of the best films in my career was with a great director from south, Mani Ratnam. I got the opportunity to work with him and it’s great,” she said, referring to Yuva, the Hindi remake of his Tamil film Aaytha Ezhuthu, which released in 2004.
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On that note, we think she might even consider Ra.One an almost South Indian film given that she worked with Shahrukh Khan’s Tamil character and even had a scene with Rajinikanth. Or the fact that it is the Hindi remake of a Tamil blockbuster called Endhiran. Not sure if she realises this, but she’s also worked with four other South Indian based film directors – Prabhudeva (Rowdy Rathore), SJ Surya (Khushi), Santosh Siva (Asoka), and Priyadarshan (Hulchul, Chup Chup Ke, Kyun Ki).
Back in 2013, rumours of her doing a film with Mohanlal were doing the rounds. Until she rubbished them all. “I don’t think I will do a Malayalam (film). I get many offers from South but I get scared to work as I can’t speak Tamil, Telugu,” she told PTI News then.
While Radhika Apte and Sonakshi Sinha occasionally shuttle between Tamil and Hindi films, despite not knowing the language, Kareena remains consistent in maintaining her distance from South Indian films. We respect that.
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