Actress Genelia D’Souza recently shut down a disparaging question about her South Indian film career during a promotional interview for her upcoming movie Sitaare Zameen Par. When asked if she ever felt she didn’t receive solid roles in the South, Genelia firmly rejected the notion, calling it an unfair and misinformed judgment.

She passionately responded, “No, I always got solid roles. If you see my South films, I’ve had my best roles ever. It was my learning ground. I am eternally indebted to the work I got there.” The actress went on to name iconic characters like Haasini from Bommarillu (Telugu), Harini from Santosh Subramaniam (Tamil), and Ayesha from Urumi (Malayalam), noting how these roles are still remembered by fans today.

Genelia emphasized that the South Indian film industry provided her with meaningful opportunities and shaped her as an actor. She highlighted the problem of actors seeking external validation and advised instead to focus on passion and craft, irrespective of language or region. Citing her experiences with acclaimed directors like Shankar and Rajamouli, as well as debut filmmakers, she shared that she cherished every part of her journey.

Her dignified yet powerful response resonated widely, reinforcing the importance and value of regional cinema, and the need to recognize its contribution to an actor’s career with respect and appreciation.