Regina Cassandra has been known for playing a variety of roles in Bollywood, Telugu, and Tamil films for a very long time. In a recent conversation, the actress spoke about the hurdles she has faced, particularly as a South Indian in an industry that often applies different standards based on regional backgrounds.Regina’s journey in front of the camera began at an early age. Starting with advertisements at just nine, she transitioned to films by 14 with Kanda Naal Mudhal. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Regina reflected on her long career, stating that she had entered the industry with a certain level of understanding. According to her, being a woman and a South Indian in the industry is not easy.Shilpa Shetty Kundra reacts to Bollywood vs South films debateHighlighting a key disparity, Regina pointed out that South Indian actors are often scrutinised for their Hindi proficiency, whereas North Indian actors face no such barrier when working in the South. She explained that whenever she auditions for Hindi films, her language skills are closely examined. Casting teams assess her fluency, pronunciation, and efforts to improve her Hindi, which she considers essential. While she is sometimes allowed to retain a slight South Indian accent for certain roles, she has actively worked on neutralising it. However, she noted a stark contrast in the South Indian film industry, where many North Indian actresses have successfully built careers without knowing Tamil or Telugu, as their language proficiency was never a deciding factor.The actress further expressed frustration over missing out on roles due to her Hindi-speaking abilities, while non-South Indian actors faced no such constraints when cast in Tamil or Telugu films. “I can’t play a Punjabi girl, and that’s okay. But a Punjabi girl can play a South Indian girl—and it has happened to me. Imagine someone else being chosen over me in the South, and in the North, the same person being chosen over me. Where do I go?” she stated.Regina was last seen in ‘Vidaamuyarchi’ alongside Ajith Kumar, Trisha Krishnan, and Arjun Sarja. Directed by Magizh Thirumeni, the film hit theatres on February 6. She will next be seen in ‘Jaat’ with Sunny Deol.
Regina Cassandra shares frustration over losing roles for being a South Indian: ‘I can’t play a Punjabi girl, but a Punjabi girl can play a South Indian girl..’ | Hindi Movie News
