Actress Genelia D’Souza has strongly defended the South Indian film industries, saying she received some of the best roles of her career in Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam films.
During a recent promotional interview for her upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par, Genelia was asked whether she felt she never got strong roles in South cinema. The question appeared to downplay the value of Southern films, but the actress responded with grace and clarity.
“No, I always got solid roles,” Genelia replied confidently. “If you see my South films, I’ve had my best roles ever. It was my learning ground. I’m eternally indebted to the work I got there.”
She went on to mention some of her most loved characters: Haasini from Bommarillu (Telugu), Harini from Santosh Subramaniam (Tamil), and Ayesha from Urumi (Malayalam). “If you go to Hyderabad today, people still remember Haasini. I think I’ve been truly blessed to get those kinds of roles,” she said.
Genelia also spoke about how actors should work across different languages out of love for the craft, not for external validation. She believes that when actors enjoy what they do, their careers naturally reflect that passion.
She further shared that she had the chance to work with top directors like Shankar and Rajamouli, as well as talented newcomers, and she valued every part of the journey.
Her thoughtful and heartfelt reply has earned praise online, especially from fans of South Indian cinema, who appreciated her respect and gratitude toward the industry.
