Regena Cassandrra, a Chennai-born actor who spent more than a decade working in Tamil and Telugu cinema, says she struggled to find acceptance in Bollywood after moving to Hindi films. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Regena — who made her Bollywood debut in the 2019 film Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga — said it “took some time” to feel at home in the Hindi film industry because she was often stereotyped and treated as an outsider.
Regena emphasised that her Hindi is strong: “I was a South Indian actress. Compared to most South Indians, my Hindi is way better. I can read, write, and speak Hindi, and all the work I have done to date in the language is in my own voice. It’s my own Hindi, and I’ve tried to make sure that, you know, I live up to the role that I’ve been given,” she told Hindustan Times.
She added that the issue went beyond language. “A lot of people treated me in a derogatory manner, not just with words, but with actions. It’s sort of a derogatory outlook towards me. And, I mean, anyone would be able to tell that I was being put down in a certain way. I did feel it. So I did have some inhibitions in the North. But, having said that, it’s not always the case, right?” Regena said, describing episodes that made her feel foreign in the industry.
Despite those challenges, Regena said she has worked across prominent projects — including Kesari Chapter 2, Rocket Boys, Farzi and Jaat — and coped by leaning on her personality and professionalism. “I’m a very nurturing person, so when I’m around people, I feel like they see that side of me. Irrespective of the industry I’m in, I somehow make it feel like home,” she explained.
Regena also spoke about the broader stereotyping women face in commercial cinema. “I think as a woman in this industry, it’s very easy for us to be stereotyped. I mean, it’s only obvious because it’s a visual medium at the end of the day, and once you see something, it sticks in your head. But I’ve always wanted to be versatile. So, it is very difficult for me to pick and choose my films because I don’t want to always do mainstream commercial films,” she said.
Reflecting on her career, Regena — who began acting at about 16 and is now 35 — said she is learning to balance resilience with acceptance. “This might sound very woke, but it’s really not that easy being in this particular industry, and doing the kind of work that I’m doing, to just say, okay, let’s go with the flow for four days and not then question it on day five. I think I am a very chill person. But sometimes in your subconscious, you sort of, like, hold on to things. And, for me, these are the learnings that I count on over the years. I feel like, as a child, I was able to do it easier. Somewhere along the way, I’m unlearning and learning, and the process continues,” she said.
Original Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/regena-cassandrra-says-she-has-faced-derogatory-behaviour-in-bollywood-as-a-south-indian-was-put-down-interview-101771236739816.html
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Publish Date: 2026-02-17 06:07:00
