Ranya Rao's arrest, Rashmika Mandanna's remarks and Renukaswamy murder case; Recent controversies in the Kannada film industry

The Kannada film industry has recently been marred by controversies involving some of its prominent figures. One of the most recent and shocking cases involves actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai. Let's look into the controversies involving Kannada stars.
Ranya Rao’s gold smuggling case
Firstly, the most recent one, Ranya Rao, who is known for her roles in films like Kichcha Sudeep starrer 'Maanikya' and 'Wagah,' was apprehended by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. Her frequent trips to Dubai four times in just 15 days had raised suspicions, leading to her arrest upon arrival from one such trip. Authorities are also probing potential involvement or misuse of her connections as the daughter of a senior IPS officer.
Following her arrest, Ranya was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. As per an IANS report, the DRI also raided her upscale residence on Lavelle Road in Bengaluru, seizing gold worth Rs 2.06 crore and cash amounting to Rs 2.67 crore. The investigation is ongoing to determine if she acted alone or was part of a larger smuggling network.
Darshan Thoogudeepa in the Renukaswamy murder case
In the previous year, Kannada superstar Darshan Thoogudeepa was involved in a sensitive case involving the murder of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old. The incident occurred on June 8, 2024, when Renukaswamy was allegedly abducted and brutally murdered in Bengaluru.
Renukaswamy was reportedly lured to a shed in Rajarajeshwari Nagar under the pretext of meeting Darshan. Once there, he was physically abused, including multiple blunt injuries and electric shocks, which ultimately led to his death. The motive behind the murder was linked to obscene messages Renukaswamy had allegedly sent to Pavithra Gowda, Darshan's rumored girlfriend. Renukaswamy was reportedly sending messages to those who believed Pavithra Gowda was tampering with Darshan's marriage with Vijaya Lakshmi.

Rashmika Mandanna faces backlash for "I'm from Hyderabad" remark.
The "National Crush," Rashmika Mandanna, found herself incontroversy involving her alleged disregard for Kannada culture. Karnataka Congress MLA Ravikumar Gowda Ganiga recently accused Rashmika of "disregarding" Kannada and refusing an invitation to attend an award event in Bengaluru.
Earlier, the 'Kirik Party' star referred to Hyderabad as her home during a pre-release event for her film 'Chhaava.'. In a viral clip, she addressed the audience, saying she hoped to be part of their family as someone from Hyderabad. This statement did not sit well with pro-Kannada groups and fans, who accused her of distancing herself from her roots in Karnataka, where she began her career.