Kajal Agarwal might now be known as one of the most popular heroines in South Indian cinema. From being a nobody in her blink and miss debut in Hindi film"Kyon...Ho Gaya Na", she has come a long way.
And it is South Indian cinema that gave her an identity in the glam world. Infact, she bagged her big ticket, Bollywood project, " Singham," with Ajay Devgn, only thanks to her popularity down South. But looks like Kajal, in all her B-Town excitement, is keen on leaving her South days behind. Talking to media in Mumbai for the promotion of herfilm "Singham," she was quoted as saying, "I have never considered myself a South Indian actress."
The industry is fuming at her statement. A co-star of Kajal, who also hails from the North and has worked with Kajal more than once, says, "This is insane.We don't get good roles in Hindi films and so we start off our career with South Indian movies. This industry gives us our fame and grooms us and then we bag Hindi films.We shouldn't forget where we began. I still can't believe she could say such a thing."
Many insiders feel that Tollywood producers are to be blamed for encouraging these Mumbai imports and putting up with their tantrums, only for them to turn their backs at the industry, as soon as Bollywood beckons. "These actresses use the South Indiancinema only as stepping stones to Bollywood career," a Tollywood insider says.
Filmmakers who worked with Kajal express their dismay and disbelief at her statement. While many were not willing to go on record against her, a few demand an apology from the actress.
"Two weeks ago she said that she knows the greatness of Hyderbadi biryani. When these stars are in Hyderabad,they say they love this city, pearls and biryani. When they are in Chennai, they say they love Tamil language. It is alright for her to say that she loves Mumbai for the sake of promoting her movie. But it is insane to say she never considered herself to be a South Indian actress. Now that we know her attitudetowards our industry, we have to treat her similarly," says director Sreedhar Reddy.
A few however, still give Kajal the benefit of doubt. "I cast anyone who suits the role without regional feelings. I don't discriminate. Shriya was from Delhi. Kajal is from Mumbai. This is a creative industry and we need to work together. It doesn't matter to me what her feelings about South are as long as she suits the role. It is her perspective," says Sravanti Ravi Kishore, senior producer who worked with Kajal.
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