Ashika Ranganath Faces Backlash Over Telugu Movies Commercial Comments

Words can sometimes stir storms, even when said with a smile. Actress Ashika Ranganath, who made her Telugu debut with Naa Saami Ranga opposite Akkineni Nagarjuna, recently faced unexpected criticism after a comment she made at the song launch of her Kannada film Gatha Vaibhava, which is now being released in Telugu as well.

During the event, Ashika spoke with excitement about the film. She shared that Gatha Vaibhava tells four stories in one film, each with its own tone and dialect. She praised director Simple Suni for his creative approach, cinematographer William David for his visuals, and music director Judah Sandy for the song “Varnamala.” She also appreciated her co-star Dushyanth, who learned Telugu for the event. While speaking, she added that Telugu audiences usually connect better when a dubbed film has strong content, commercial songs, and fight sequences, and that her film offers all of them.

Her statement drew mixed reactions. A few agreed that Telugu audiences enjoy energy-packed entertainment, but others felt she underestimated their love for emotional, simple stories. They reminded her that even quiet films like Little Hearts and Court State vs a Nobody worked without any mass appeal. Within hours, clips of her comment went viral, sparking online arguments and memes about “what really makes a Telugu hit.”