Rashmika Mandanna, known as the glamorous diva of South Indian cinema, won hearts with several hit films and rose to national fame. Her steamy romantic scenes with Ranbir Kapoor in Animal caught the attention of Bollywood fans — and sparked widespread debate.

With the success of Animal, Rashmika cemented her place as a true pan-India star. However, her choice of character and the film’s explicit content — including excessive smoking scenes and unnecessary intimate moments — drew heavy criticism despite the film’s box-office success.

Rashmika’s Response

Addressing the backlash, Rashmika expressed frustration, saying viewers should treat the film as fiction. She clarified that the smoking scenes don’t promote the habit and added, “If you don’t want to watch, then don’t.”

She explained that director Sandeep Reddy Vanga portrayed the dark side within every person and that Animal was simply a cinematic representation of that. “There's no need to debate this unnecessarily,” she said.

However, Rashmika’s comment — especially her “Don’t watch it” line — triggered fresh outrage online. Critics slammed her for being irresponsible and dismissive. Some questioned: “Is this a message against the public?” “Can actors say whatever they want?” Others argued that a responsible actress wouldn't speak that way.

As the controversy deepens, many are now debating whether such celebrity remarks offer clarity or just fuel more division.