In an insightful conversation with Bollywood Bubble, she discussed how Bollywood often stereotyped South Indians, referring to them as ‘Madrasans’ in a way she finds derogatory. The actress revealed that this bias led her to drop her surname, Raghunathan, to avoid prejudiced assumptions.Her candid reflections highlight the challenges faced by South Indian actors in the Bollywood industry.
Madhoo reflected on her past decision to drop her surname, Raghunathan, to avoid being labeled by her name. She admitted that during the ’90s, she felt a strong bias against South Indians in Bollywood, which made her want to fit in more. Today, however, she embraces her name and identity, feeling evolved and self-assured. She values her identity as Madhoo and doesn’t wish to change anything about herself to conform.
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The actress noted that South Indians were often portrayed in Bollywood through mimicry and comedic stereotypes, with phrases like “Aiyo” used mockingly. To distance herself from these biases and be seen as a serious artist rather than a “South Indian actress,” she chose to drop her surname and focus on her identity within the Hindi film industry.
Madhoo expressed that terms like ‘Madrasan‘ are derogatory and rooted in ignorance, reflecting outdated and inaccurate stereotypes about South Indians. She avoided using her surname, Raghunathan, to escape these biases and be recognized solely as an actor. However, she now embraces her heritage, feeling she should be proud of her identity, just like actors with other surnames.
