India, July 9 -- Actor Rashmika Mandanna, in an interview with Mojo Story last week, recalled her family's reaction when she decided to join films. She said, "Conversations back home when I got my first pay cheque weren't easy. In the Kodava community, nobody had ever entered the film industry. I think I'm the first from our whole community. People were extremely judgy." Her comment didn't sit well with many from the Kodava community - an ethnic group from Karnataka's Coorg region - including actor Neravanda Prema, who was active in the '90s and early 2000s. Responding to Rashmika's remark, Prema told Kodagu Express, "What is there for me to say? The Kodava community knows the truth. You should ask her about her version of the statement." She also noted that other actors had paved the way long before: "Before me, there was Shashikala from Coorg, who played supporting roles. Then I entered the industry, and many Kodavas have done well since." Her statement also triggered a barrage of critical comments on social media platforms. "She is not the first frm kodava community ...before that many artist have acted like prema, nidhi subbaih, harishika poonacha, tanisha kuppanda (sic)," pointed out a user. Another user wrote, "Rashmika maybe you are the only one who thinks u made it big. Yes definitely but u have also forgotten Gulshan devaiah too has made it big (sic)."...