A new movie, “Param Sundari,” is already making waves, and not just for its trailer. A well-known Malayali actress, Pavithra Menon, has spoken up about it. She shared her thoughts in a video online. That video has since been taken down.
Pavithra Menon questioned the casting choices for “Param Sundari.” She raised strong concerns about a Hindi actress playing a Malayali character. The film’s trailer shows Janhvi Kapoor in the role. Pavithra felt Janhvi’s way of speaking in the trailer just didn’t sound right.
Pavithra Menon asked why filmmakers didn’t pick a talented Malayali actress instead. She wondered aloud if Malayali actors were not good enough. She pointed out that this kind of casting doesn’t usually happen in Kerala. Pavithra said she speaks Hindi well, but she speaks Malayalam even better. She then asked a direct question in Malayalam: “Is it really that hard to find a Malayali for a role in a Hindi movie?”
Pavithra was visibly upset about Bollywood’s approach to casting. She said this practice reminds her of Malayalam films from the 1990s. But now, it’s 2025, and things should be different. She made it clear that most people know how Malayalis speak. She added that Malayalis are just like everyone else. They don’t always wear jasmine flowers or perform Mohiniyattam dances. In her video caption, Pavithra wrote, “I don’t dislike Janhvi, but why does she need to put in so much effort?”
– Photo: Instagram- @maddockfilms
Meet Pavithra Menon
Pavithra Menon is a singer and an actress. She has lent her voice to songs in films like “Mili” and “Jack & Daniel.” She also appeared in the short film called “Spit It Out Margot!” Her experience in the industry gives her a unique viewpoint on these casting discussions.
All About Param Sundari
The movie “Param Sundari” tells the story of two people who fall in love. One character is from Delhi, and the other is from Kerala. Janhvi Kapoor plays the Malayali girl in the film. The cast also includes Siddharth Malhotra, Rajiv Khandelwal, and Akash Dahia. Tushar Jalota directed the movie. “Param Sundari” is set to hit theaters on August 29.