Pavithra Menon clarifies her Param Sundari video targets stereotypes, not Janhvi Kapoor: ‘I’m not trying to steal anyone’s job’

“It’s 2025 — we deserve better”: RJ Pavithra Menon on why Janhvi Kapoor’s Malayalam accent in Param Sundari didn’t sit right with her

Radio personality Pavithra Menon, who works as an RJ in Dubai, found herself in the spotlight recently after she criticised actress Janhvi Kapoor’s Malayalam accent in the film Param Sundari. The video she shared sparked widespread discussion — and even more outrage after it was taken down for alleged copyright infringement, which many felt was an attempt to silence genuine criticism.

Speaking with Hindustan Times, Pavithra says her critique wasn’t meant as a personal attack on Janhvi Kapoor, but rather a call-out of the larger problem — the way Malayali characters are still portrayed in mainstream Bollywood.

“We’re not in the ‘90s anymore”

“In Kerala, we love humour. We’re good at laughing at ourselves, and we've been doing that for years,” Pavithra explains. “Back in the ‘90s, even when we were portrayed in a very caricatured way, we laughed it off. But it’s 2025 now. The world has evolved, and so have we. Seeing those same outdated stereotypes today just feels lazy and off-putting.”

Param Sundari, a cross-cultural romance, stars Janhvi Kapoor as a Malayali woman opposite Sidharth Malhotra’s Delhi-based character. While the film had a promising start, it received lukewarm reviews — and Janhvi’s inconsistent accent has been a major talking point among both viewers and critics.

“If you can hire an intimacy coordinator, why not a dialect coach?”

Pavithra is clear: the issue isn’t about who plays the role, but how it’s done.

“You can cast anyone from anywhere in the world to play any character. That’s what acting is about. But at least give them the tools to do it right,” she says. “If you're hiring an intimacy director on set — and spending money for it — then why not get a proper dialect coach too?”

She adds that she later learned the filmmakers did hire a dialect coach for Janhvi. “If that’s true, then I’m sorry — it was a very shoddy job,” she says bluntly.

“Hollywood gets it right. Why can’t we?”

Pavithra draws comparisons to global cinema, pointing out how American actors often deliver flawless British or European accents with the help of expert coaching. “So why can’t our actors do that too? Why is there still this gap?”

“We love Bollywood — and we expect better from it”

What made this even more frustrating for Pavithra is the deep connection Keralites have with Hindi cinema.

“People in Kerala have always been fans of Bollywood. We grew up watching Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, all the big stars,” she says. “So, naturally, we expect better. We’ve supported the industry for decades. It’s evolved so much in terms of budget and global reach. So why not evolve in terms of cultural sensitivity and accuracy too?”

She doesn’t hold back in her criticism of the industry’s general approach: “Nuance has never really been Bollywood’s strength. Out of 10 films, maybe two really try to show reality. The rest are focused only on box office numbers. But post-pandemic, audiences have become more aware. Bollywood is underestimating them. We’re no longer living in the past.”

“This wasn’t about Janhvi Kapoor”

After her video gained traction, some reports referred to Pavithra as an “actor,” implying professional jealousy. She clarifies that while she has acted in a few short films in the past, she doesn’t identify as an actor anymore.

“I wasn’t trying to steal anyone’s job,” she says. “This wasn’t about Janhvi either. In fact, she seems like a very grounded person. I’ve met her a few times here in Dubai during her promotions, and she was lovely.”

Pavithra believes the real issue lies in how actors are prepped for roles. “Sometimes, I think they just don’t get the right guidance. If someone fluent in Malayalam had reviewed her lines, they could have helped a lot. But when that doesn’t happen, it shows.”

Param Sundari released in theatres last Friday and opened to mixed reviews. After a decent opening, the film’s box office performance has dipped, with current collections standing at ₹37 crore (net) after six days.