Janhvi Kapoor says she is 'half-Tamilian, half-Malayali' amid trolling over Param Sundari accent: 'I am a huge fan of Malayalam cinema'

Janhvi Kapoor has found herself at the center of debate ahead of the release of Param Sundari. The actress, who plays a character with Malayali roots in the film, has been facing criticism online for her accent and styling. Now, she has opened up about the cultural background of her role while also sharing what drew her to the project.In conversation with ET Digital, Janhvi didn’t address the criticism directly but clarified that her character in Param Sundari is of mixed heritage—half Tamilian and half Malayali. She noted that neither she nor her late mother Sridevi are from Kerala. Janhvi said she was drawn to the story because it allowed her to explore a culture she’s long admired, and being a fan of Malayalam cinema, she felt grateful to be part of the film.Her clarification comes amid growing online trolling, especially over her accent and wardrobe in Param Sundari. Among the critics was Malayalam singer Pavithra Menon, who shared a video criticizing Janhvi’s performance and the way the Malayali identity was portrayed. Soon after, Pavithra revealed that Instagram had taken down her video following a copyright complaint from a “third party.” Sharing a screenshot of the notice, she reacted with the caption: “Happy Independence Day to everyone who has a voice.”Param Sundari, directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, is scheduled to release on August 29. The film also features Sidharth Malhotra alongside Janhvi Kapoor.