Javed Akhtar Slams 'Fake Linguistic Superiority' While Defending Rashmika Mandanna
Javed Akhtar slams trolls mocking Rashmika Mandanna's accent, calling out fake linguistic superiority in a viral X post.
Renowned lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar has stepped forward to support actress Rashmika Mandanna, slamming the online trolls who have relentlessly mocked her Hindi accent. The veteran writer called out the hypocrisy of those claiming linguistic superiority, urging them to appreciate the effort of actors speaking a language that is not their mother tongue.
The Spark: Rashmika's Struggle with Trolls
The controversy gained momentum after Rashmika Mandanna appeared on the latest episode of Koffee With Karan Season 9. Appearing alongside her husband, actor Vijay Deverakonda, the 'Animal' star opened up about the criticism she faces regarding her pronunciation. She expressed her difficulty in understanding why her accent has become a point of ridicule for so many on the internet.
Akhtar's Fiery Response on X
Taking to the social media platform X, Javed Akhtar voiced his disapproval of the negativity directed at the actress. In an attempt to put the critics in their place, he challenged them to attempt the complexities of South Indian languages themselves.
"Those who have any problem with the pronounciation of Tamil actor Rashmika should be given a few lines of Tamil which is the oldest spoken language in the world and let’s see how well they pronounce Tamil. This fake and baseless linguistic superiority is not acceptable," Akhtar wrote.
A Humbling Correction
While his intent was to protect the actress, Akhtar faced a minor setback when a social media user pointed out a factual error: Rashmika Mandanna is not a Tamil actress. Showing grace, the poet quickly acknowledged his mistake and apologized to the public.
He explained that he does not know the actress personally and that the only film of hers he had seen happened to be in Tamil. However, he emphasized that the specific language—be it Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, or Kannada—was irrelevant to the larger point he was making.
The Global Perspective on Accents
Akhtar further expanded his argument by drawing a parallel with the English language, questioning the standards that trolls apply to Indian actors.
He noted that if someone speaks a language with a certain accent, it should be appreciated rather than mocked. He posed a poignant question to the critics: "Btw how many of us speak English with a perfect accent. How would we like if any English man makes fun of us?"
Recent Collaborations
Away from the social media storm, Rashmika and Vijay Deverakonda have recently reunited on the big screen. The duo starred together in 'Ranabaali,' directed by Rahul Sankrityan, which was released in theatres on October 16. This project marks their first professional collaboration since their marriage in February 2026.