Avika Gor says South Cinema is ‘all about nepotism’, months after featuring in Telugu movie ‘Popcorn’

Actress Avika Gor, who is best known for playing the role of Anandi in the TV series Balika Vadhu and Roli in the TV show Sasural Simar Ka, has heavily lashed out at those promoting nepotism in the Indian film industry, especially those working in the Telugu film industry.

She even feels that she was not offered theatrical or digital films owing to her popularity in the Hindi television sphere. The 25-year-old goes on to highlight how actors working on theatrical films discriminate against those working in the television industry.

In an interview with film critic Siddharth Kannan, the budding actress said, “See when it comes to star power, South (Cinema) is all about star power. When it comes to nepotism, the word that we all are tired of hearing... South (Cinema) is all about nepotism. So, things are just the same. A bias has been created over time against Bollywood and Hindi films. The bias is ‘we (South Cinema) will judge whatever they (Bollywood) make’.”

She also questioned movie buffs in the country and asked, "Telugu industry main ye (nepotism) toh ekdum saamne hain. I mean how are people choosing not to see it?”

The actor, who is making her Bollywood debut with Krishna Bhatt’s horror-drama 1920 Horrors of the Heart, is now trying her luck at movies. However, her journey in the world of Hindi Cinema is not an easy one. “I do not get to do projects because either ‘I’m ‘seen too much on TV’ or ‘I’m way more popular than the producer only'”, Avika shared.

In February this year, Avika featured in a Telugu film titled Popcorn. This film was released theatrically and later on Amazon Prime Video. It received harsh reviews from critics globally and struggled to mint money.