Overview
- Rashmika Mandanna told Mojo Story she believed no one from her Kodava community had entered films before her.
- Netizens on X used #NotTheFirst and #KodavaPride to challenge her claim and share historical examples of Kodava actors.
- Veteran performer Neravanda Prema publicly refuted the statement by highlighting predecessors such as Shashikala and other established Kodava artists.
- Other community figures including Varsha Bollamma, Nidhi Subbaiah and Gulshan Devaiah have similarly been cited as earlier Kodava entrants to the industry.
- As of July 8, Mandanna has not issued any clarification, prompting broader discussion on the need for accurate cultural recognition of the Kodava legacy in cinema.