After Rashmika Mandanna’s team says actress didn’t refuse to attend Bengaluru film festival, MLA claims ‘will release proof'

Rashmika Mandanna

Popular actress Rashmika Mandanna has found herself in the middle of a heated controversy after allegations surfaced that she refused to attend the Bengaluru International Film Festival. The claims, which sparked a debate among Kannada cinema fans and politicians, suggested that Rashmika declined multiple invitations to the prestigious event. However, her team has dismissed these accusations as “completely false.

Rashmika’s Team Responds to Allegations

Amidst the growing backlash, a source close to Rashmika Mandanna provided an official statement to clarify her stance. The statement, as reported by News 24, reads:

“This bears reference to certain news reports alleging that Rashmika refused to attend the Bengaluru Film Festival and made derogatory statements about it and the state. The said news reports are completely false and do not have any element of truth.”

The source further emphasized, “The statements attributed to Rashmika and the entire story about someone approaching her and her refusing to attend the Bengaluru Film Festival are incorrect. This statement is being issued for placing the correct facts on record and for quelling any false narratives.”

Hours after Rashmika’s team refuting the allegations, Karnataka Congress MLA Ravi Ganiga stated that he has concrete proof to back his claims.

“It is not Rashmika’s statement but Rashmika’s team’s statement. We will release the document (proof) publicly that we had invited Rashmika to the film festival (Bengaluru Film Festival) but she refused.”

He has alleged that Rashmika was invited several times but declined without a valid reason.

“Rashmika Mandanna, who started her career with the Kannada movie ‘Kirik Party,’ refused to attend the International Film Festival last year when we invited her,” he said during a media interaction on March 3.

He further claimed, “One of our legislator friends visited her house 10–12 times to invite her, but she refused and even disregarded Kannada, despite growing up in the industry here. Shouldn’t we teach her a lesson?”

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While Ganiga promises to release evidence, Rashmika herself has yet to make a personal statement on the matter.

Whether this controversy will escalate further depends on whether the MLA provides the proof he has promised. For now, Rashmika’s team is standing firm in their denial.