Javed Akhtar Defends Rashmika Mandanna Over Hindi Accent Trolling, Calls Out 'Linguistic Arrogance'

Renowned lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has stepped forward in support of actress Rashmika Mandanna after she faced online trolling over her Hindi pronunciation and accent. Criticizing those mocking the actress, Akhtar called out what he described as unacceptable "false linguistic arrogance." The controversy unfolded following a recent appearance by the Animal actress on Season 9 of the chat show Koffee With Karan. Appearing alongside her husband, actor Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika expressed sadness over the persistent criticism directed at her accent, stating that she struggles to understand why people continually question the way she speaks. Social Media Exchange and Clarification Reacting to the criticism faced by the actress, Javed Akhtar initially posted on social media platform X, challenging those questioning her pronunciation to try speaking Tamil, which he highlighted as one of the world's oldest spoken languages. However, after a social media user pointed out that Rashmika is not a Tamil actress, Akhtar promptly acknowledged his oversight. Correcting his statement, Akhtar wrote, "I am sorry, I was wrong. I don't know her personally. But it is not a matter of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, or Kannada. If someone speaks our language in their own accent, we should appreciate it. By the way, how many of us speak flawless English? How would we feel if an Englishman mocked us?" Recent Releases and Personal Milestones On the professional front, Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda's film Ranbali was released in theatres on October 16. The project marks the couple's first film together following their marriage in February 2026.