Janhvi says she is ‘half-Tamilian, half-Malayali’ amid trolling

Janhvi Kapoor is facing backlash ahead of ‘Param Sundari’ release for her portrayal of a character with Malayali roots. She clarified that her character has mixed Tamilian and Malayali heritage, expressing her admiration for Malayalam cinema. Online trolling intensified, including criticism from singer Pavithra Menon, who later reported her critical video was removed from Instagram due to copyright issues.

Janhvi Kapoor has found herself at the center of debate ahead of the release of Param Sundari. The actress, who plays a character with Malayali roots in the film, has been facing criticism online for her accent and styling. Now, she has opened up about the cultural background of her role while also sharing what drew her to the project.

Clarifies her character’s background

In conversation with ET Digital, Janhvi didn’t address the criticism directly but clarified that her character in Param Sundari is of mixed heritage—half Tamilian and half Malayali. She noted that neither she nor her late mother Sridevi are from Kerala. Janhvi said she was drawn to the story because it allowed her to explore a culture she’s long admired, and being a fan of Malayalam cinema, she felt grateful to be part of the film.

Trolling intensifies online

Her clarification comes amid growing online trolling, especially over her accent and wardrobe in Param Sundari. Among the critics was Malayalam singer Pavithra Menon, who shared a video criticizing Janhvi’s performance and the way the Malayali identity was portrayed. Soon after, Pavithra revealed that Instagram had taken down her video following a copyright complaint from a “third party.” Sharing a screenshot of the notice, she reacted with the caption: “Happy Independence Day to everyone who has a voice.”Param Sundari, directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, is scheduled to release on August 29. The film also features Sidharth Malhotra alongside Janhvi Kapoor.