‘I typically give myself a pat on the shoulder, reminding myself that I’ve finished a superb job contemplating the place I began and the mindset I grew up with.’

{Photograph}: Form courtesy Rashmika Mandanna/Instagram

Rashmika Mandanna has had a superb yr, due to blockbusters like Chhaava and deeply private tales like The Girlfriend.

She appears to be like again at 2025, and tells Subhash Ok Jha, “I need to discover totally different personalities and variations of myself, moderately than being boxed into one picture. I do not need to be seen as simply the nice lady, the harmless lady, the happy-go-lucky lady, or the imply lady.”

Do you are feeling a way of contentment in regards to the yr and your profession in 2025?

The entire purpose we work as arduous as we do is to at some point, really feel this manner.

I am very pleased with the yr I’ve had, despite the fact that it doesn’t suggest yearly can be like this.

Perhaps issues will get higher, possibly they’re going to keep the identical. However for all of the work I’ve put in, it means loads to see my buddies, household, and prolonged household really feel joyful for me.

That happiness displays again on me.

I really feel extraordinarily proud, deeply content material, joyful, and cherished for all the things I acquired in 2025.

IMAGE: Rashmika Madanna in The Girlfriend. {Photograph}: Form courtesy Rashmika Mandanna/Instagram

Whereas Chhaava was your first blockbuster of 2025, the one that basically spoke to me, and doubtless to you, was The Girlfriend. What was your response whenever you had been supplied the half?

My first response after I heard the script of The Girlfriend was that this was probably the most essential tales to be advised proper now.

I understood the feelings it carried. It felt important to share it.

I had lived components of that story even earlier than I turned Bhuma, so it was deeply private for me.

Doing this movie was my manner of giving a heat, tight hug to my youthful self.

It made me joyful lengthy earlier than its launch as a result of, at its core, this was purely for me.

The Girlfriend has change into a motion on toxicity in relationships.

Right this moment, seeing individuals watch the movie and join with it makes me even happier.

I am grateful that whenever you give a lot of your self to cinema, it is not brushed apart — it is accepted, cherished, and guarded.

That is whenever you really really feel joyful.

IMAGE: Rashmika Madanna in The Girlfriend. {Photograph}: Form courtesy Rashmika Mandanna/Instagram

The Girlfriend places a duty in your shoulders. As a representational character whom ladies would look in the direction of for relationship objectives, how do you see that duty?

I do not see it as a duty. I am a lady, and have at all times proven up for the ladies in my life.

Right this moment, I am merely exhibiting up for the ladies in my prolonged household.

There is no actual distinction for me — I am simply being myself and staying true.

On the identical time, I am deeply grateful that folks felt comfy creating this.

I saved telling my director Rahul Ravindran how grateful I’m {that a} man might perceive a lady so intimately and sensitively, and really feel assured sufficient to write down a personality like this.

I am additionally grateful to the producers who had been keen to spend money on telling a narrative from a lady’s perspective.

Do you discover a paucity of such tales in our cinema?

I am joyful to see extra tales like this being written, and extra administrators and producers coming collectively to make them occur.

There ought to be many extra movies advised by a feminine lens, and that is lastly occurring.

It is not nearly me, there can be many extra artists who will come ahead with extremely particular tales and performances.

In that sense, if there’s a duty to proceed telling trustworthy tales from a lady’s perspective. I promise I will hold working arduous to do justice to that.

IMAGE: Rashmika Madanna in Thamma. {Photograph}: Form courtesy Rashmika Mandanna/Instagram

As an emotionally and intellectually advanced actress, do you discover it arduous to rationalise what your characters demand of you? For instance, what sense did Thamma make to you?

I am an actor, an entertainer.

I need to entertain individuals.

I need to discover totally different personalities and variations of myself, moderately than being boxed into one picture.

I do not need to be seen as simply the nice lady, the harmless lady, the happy-go-lucky lady, or the imply lady.

An actor may be very totally different from who I’m as an individual, and I need that distinction to be clear.

As an actor, I need individuals to really feel proud that I am keen to tackle something.

That/s how I need to be perceived — somebody who retains pushing herself to develop and get higher.

That is why I give up utterly to my administrators and writers. In the event that they write one thing that is smart and convinces me, I give myself to it absolutely.

How do you take a look at your journey as an actor to this point?

I am a really totally different individual at present than I as soon as was.

I’ve grown up in a sure manner, carried sure habits and beliefs, and realized a lot alongside the way in which, each on the job by my performances and in life, by my experiences.

Every little thing I’ve picked up has formed me into the lady I needed to change into.

Since childhood, I’ve handled nervousness, insecurity, and lots of inner struggles.

Slowly and steadily, working by them has made me extremely pleased with who I’m at present.

I typically give myself a pat on the shoulder, reminding myself that I’ve finished a superb job contemplating the place I began and the mindset I grew up with.

Even when these modifications really feel small or invisible to others, I see them.

I do know them. That is sufficient to make me joyful.

{Photograph}: Form courtesy Rashmika Mandanna/Instagram

How do you divide your time between Hindi and Telugu cinema?

I work from a spot of deep gratitude and by no means take any trade without any consideration, whether or not it is Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, or Hindi.

Once I decide to a movie, I give it my one hundred pc.

I am utterly current after I’m on set, and after I’m not, I step away absolutely.

I am grateful to work with unbelievable groups from the administrators and producers to each division as a result of their power is what I thrive on.

Since most of your movies are hits, do you want being labelled a fortunate mascot?

One individual’s luck would not resolve the destiny of a movie.

Movie is a collective effort, with wherever from 50 to 200 individuals working collectively.

What you may management are the alternatives you make for your self, and even then, generally the movie would not work.

From capturing to launch, so many individuals and components are concerned that in the end form a movie’s future.

Little or no is really in our arms, however I do really feel deeply blessed and grateful.

I am grateful for the alternatives I have been in a position to make and for the chance to work with a number of the most good minds within the trade.

{Photograph}: Form courtesy Rashmika Mandanna/Instagram

Is marriage on the playing cards in 2026?

That is not one thing I want to touch upon proper now.

Pictures curated by Satish Bodas/Rediff