Priyamani calls out the overuse of ‘Pan-India’ tag in cinema, says ‘We’re all Indian’

Actor Priyamani, who has worked extensively in both Hindi and regional cinema, shared her views on the growing use of the term “pan-India actor.” She expressed her disapproval of the label, saying that it unnecessarily divides the industry.

“I think we should stop using the term pan-India,” Priyamani said. “We’re all Indian at the end of the day. What is this pan-India? I don’t understand. You get work in other industries, and that’s a good thing — but you don’t call someone a ‘regional actor’ when they come from Bollywood to the South.”

The 41-year-old actor further pointed out that artists have been working across languages for decades without needing such a tag. “For years, actors from both sides have worked across languages. Why are we suddenly labelling people now?” she said.

Priyamani highlighted examples of legendary stars like Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Prakash Raj, and Dhanush, who have successfully balanced careers in multiple languages without ever being called “pan-India actors.” “It doesn’t matter which language we work in — accept us for who we are and for the characters we play. This sudden trend of actors wanting to use the term too much is funny,” she added.

On The Family Man and Audience Sensitivity

Priyamani is set to return as Suchi in the upcoming third season of The Family Man alongside Manoj Bajpayee. Reflecting on the show’s popularity and how audiences have changed over time, she observed that people have become more sensitive.

“People have become oversensitive. It’s okay to have opinions, but don’t overanalyze or try to influence others. Watch a film for what it is. So many people put in hard work — just appreciate that,” she said.

She continued, “When you watch a film, watch it for what it is. The makers and actors put in a lot of effort. It might work out, it might not — that’s absolutely fine. What may work for you may not work for me, and that’s okay. Opinions are absolutely fine.”

Priyamani encouraged audiences to share feedback but not to go overboard with criticism. “You can criticize a film — you’re more than welcome to — but don’t over-criticize or over-analyze it. Don’t make it about red flags, green flags, Gen Z this or that. It’s just a film! It doesn’t always have to be a reflection of today’s world,” she explained.

According to her, social media has made it easier for people to share opinions, but it has also led to unnecessary negativity. “You’re more than welcome to your opinion,” she said. “But don’t try to influence other people’s opinions. Someone might actually like the film, even if you didn’t. At the end of the day, hundreds of people work hard to bring a project to life — whether for OTT or theatres. Just watch the film for what it is. You don’t have to be oversensitive about everything.”

On Her Marriage and Mutual Support

Talking about her relationship with her husband, Mustafa Raj, Priyamani shared that they always discuss her projects together. “With him, it’s easy. We always discuss work; every project that comes my way, we talk about it. Sometimes he tells me, ‘I think you should do it,’ but my gut says no. Then he says, ‘If you’re not convinced, that’s absolutely fine.’ And there are times when I tell him, ‘I don’t think I should do this,’ and he insists, ‘No, I think you should — it’s really good.’ And you know what, it has actually worked out for me when I’ve listened to him,” she said with a laugh.

She added, “Sometimes, yes, we’ve had disagreements, but more often than not, it’s unanimous — whether it’s a yes or a no, we come to the same conclusion. Eventually, we always reach a mutual agreement, which usually works in my favour at the end of the day.”

Calling her husband “the sweetest man,” Priyamani said she feels grateful for his constant support. “He listens to all my rants and gives his inputs whenever I need to be heard. I’m very lucky that way,” she concluded.

Also Read: Priyamani opens up about her relationship with cousin Vidya Balan: “We have never been on talking terms”

from Featured Movie News | Featured Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama
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