Regena Cassandrra talks about Bollywood: Actor Regena Cassandrra has opened up about facing discrimination in Bollywood due to her South Indian identity, revealing that she was treated “in a derogatory manner” after moving from Tamil and Telugu cinema to Hindi films.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Regena reflected on her journey from Chennai to Mumbai. Though she had already spent over a decade working in Tamil and Telugu films, breaking into Bollywood proved to be more complicated than she expected. She made her Hindi debut with Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga in 2019, but admits the transition wasn’t seamless.

Regena Cassandrra says industry people treated her ‘in a derogatory manner’

“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 said.

Despite her fluency and experience, Regena shared that she often felt like an outsider. “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?” she added.

Regena Cassandrra’s Hindi movies and shows

Over the years, Regena has appeared in projects such as Kesari Chapter 2, Jaat, and streaming hits like Rocket Boys and Farzi. She says her nurturing personality has helped her navigate challenging environments. “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.

The actor also highlighted how stereotypes extend beyond regional identity. As a woman in cinema, she feels typecasting is common. “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.

Now 35, Regena believes growth comes with reflection. “This might sound very woke, but it’s really not that easy being in this particular industry… Somewhere along the way, I’m unlearning and learning, and the process continues.”