Dhanush on Indian cinema: 'Don't call it North or South films'
Synopsis
Dhanush has long rejected the 'South actor' label — and his Koffee With Karan appearance made that crystal clear. Tracing his view back to a 2013 Raanjhanaa press tour, he told Karan Johar simply: 'I'm just an actor, that's it.' In a film industry still divided by geography in its marketing, that statement carries more weight than it might seem.
Key Takeaways
Dhanush stated on Koffee With Karan that Indian cinema should not be divided into North or South labels.
He first expressed this view in 2013 while promoting his Bollywood debut Raanjhanaa .
Dhanush asked media not to refer to him as a 'South actor', saying: 'I'm just an actor, that's it.' He appeared on the show alongside Sara Ali Khan to promote Atrangi Re , directed by Aanand L.
The film also stars Akshay Kumar and is produced by T-Series Films , Colour Yellow Productions , and Cape of Good Films .
Actor Dhanush once made a compelling case against regional cinema labels, asserting that there is no such divide as 'South cinema' or 'North cinema' — only Indian cinema. The remarks, made during his appearance on Koffee With Karan alongside actress Sara Ali Khan, resurfaced the long-standing debate over how the Indian film industry identifies and categorises itself.
What Dhanush Said
When host and filmmaker Karan Johar asked whether Indian films should stop being labelled by region — Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, or Hindi — and instead be celebrated collectively as Indian cinema, Dhanush did not hesitate. He recalled having expressed the same view as far back as 2013, while promoting his Bollywood debut, Raanjhanaa.
'I said the same thing. I should be like, don't call it North films, South films, it should be like an Indian film. I am an Indian actor. Don't write, when you write about me, don't write 'South actor Dhanush'. I'm just an actor, that's it,' Dhanush said.
The Atrangi Re Connection
Dhanush and Sara Ali Khan had appeared on the show to promote Atrangi Re, directed by Aanand L. Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma. The film is backed by T-Series Films, Colour Yellow Productions, and Cape of Good Films, and also stars Akshay Kumar in a key role.
Reflecting on the project, Dhanush noted that the film held personal significance beyond its pan-India scope. 'I don't see this as a very important film for me in Hindi, directed by my brother, so it is a very important film that way. Every film I do is very important for me,' he said, referring to his close relationship with director Rai.
A Debate That Has Only Grown
Dhanush's remarks are notable given that the conversation around regional labelling has intensified considerably since his 2013 statement. The commercial success of Tamil and Telugu productions in Hindi-speaking markets — and the corresponding crossover of Hindi stars into southern productions — has made the 'one Indian cinema' argument more mainstream than ever. Notably, Dhanush himself has navigated both industries seamlessly, winning a National Film Award for his Tamil work while building a credible presence in Hindi cinema.
His insistence on being identified simply as 'an actor' rather than a 'South actor' reflects a broader sentiment among many industry figures who argue that geographic labels limit audience reach and box in talent unfairly.
What It Signals for the Industry
The question Karan Johar posed — and Dhanush's emphatic answer — points to a shifting cultural consensus within the Indian film industry. As OTT platforms erase distribution boundaries and audiences consume content across languages, the pressure on legacy labels is mounting. Whether the industry's marketing machinery fully catches up with that reality remains to be seen.
Point of View
Trade media, and awards bodies continue to use geographic identifiers that fragment the audience before a single ticket is sold. The industry's rhetoric is catching up to where Dhanush was in 2013; its infrastructure has not. Until distribution deals, PR copy, and award categories reflect the 'one Indian cinema' framing, the label will persist despite the sentiment against it.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Dhanush say about Indian cinema on Koffee With Karan?
Dhanush argued that there is no such distinction as South cinema or North cinema — only Indian cinema. He asked media not to describe him as a 'South actor', saying he is simply 'an actor'.
When did Dhanush first make this argument about regional cinema labels?
Dhanush said he first raised the point in 2013 while promoting his Bollywood debut Raanjhanaa. He repeated the view on Koffee With Karan when host Karan Johar posed the same question years later.
Why did Dhanush appear on Koffee With Karan?
Dhanush appeared on the show alongside Sara Ali Khan to promote their film Atrangi Re, directed by Aanand L. Rai. The film also stars Akshay Kumar.
Who made Atrangi Re and who are its producers?
Atrangi Re was directed by Aanand L. Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma. It was backed by T-Series Films, Colour Yellow Productions, and Cape of Good Films.
Why does the debate over regional cinema labels matter?
The debate matters because geographic labels influence how films are marketed, distributed, and perceived by audiences. Critics argue such labels limit box-office reach and unfairly box in talent, a concern that has grown as OTT platforms and pan-India releases blur regional boundaries.
