Janhvi Kapoor Says Malayalam Was Too Difficult, Unsure About Trying It Again

After making a splash in Telugu cinema with Devara: Part 1 (2024) and venturing into Malayalam for the 2025 film Param Sundari, Janhvi Kapoor has opened up about the challenges she faced with the language. Speaking to IANS on 30 May 2026, the Bollywood actress admitted that Malayalam proved “too difficult” for her and that she is unlikely to attempt another Malayalam project in the near future. She praised the language as “beautiful” and “sweet,” but explained that the phonetic demands made it harder for her to deliver a performance that felt natural.

The actress, who is currently promoting her upcoming Telugu release Peddi, said she feels more comfortable with Tamil and Telugu, both of which she describes as “phonetically familiar.” Peddi, directed by Buchi Babu Sana, also stars Boman Irani, Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu and Divyenndu, and is slated to hit theatres on 4 June 2026. Janhvi expressed genuine enjoyment working in Telugu films and hinted at a willingness to explore Tamil cinema, adding that she is “really enjoying” her tryst with the South‑Indian industry.

Career progression

On the Bollywood front, Janhvi’s most recent release was Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, directed by Shashank Khaitan and featuring Varun Dhawan, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, Maniesh Paul and Akshay Oberoi. The film follows the titular characters as they navigate heartbreak and plot a dramatic wedding crash. Janhvi’s career began in 2018 with the romantic drama Dhadak, and she has since taken on diverse roles, including the real‑life pilot in Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, the titular lead in Mili, and a socially conscious performance in Homebound, where she portrayed a woman from a lower caste confronting discrimination.

When asked whether she would consider learning more languages, Janhvi smiled and replied, “All of it, really,” indicating an openness to multilingual work despite the recent setback with Malayalam. Her candid remarks have sparked conversation among fans and industry insiders about the linguistic hurdles actors face when crossing regional boundaries, and many have praised her honesty and willingness to step out of her comfort zone.