Destiny’s child—Rashmika Mandanna

What does Birdman have to do with Rashmika Mandanna? Edward Norton and his succinct analysis of good acting and what sets apart the MVP (Most Valuable Player) from the LVP (Least Valuable Player). In an exclusive interview with American Film Institute (wayyy back in 2015) Norton spoke of how critical empathy was when it came to being a good actor. This is a quality that must come naturally to Rashmika Mandanna, who has not let language define the kinds of films she has chosen since her debut eight years ago in the Kannada romantic comedyKirik Party (2016). Since then, she has gone on to star in Telugu action comedies like Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020), Devadas (2018), action drama Dear Comrade (2019) opposite Vijay Deverakonda, Bheeshma (2020), and Sita Raman (2022), as well as a bunch of Tamil action films like Sulthan (2021) and Varisu (2023). Rashmika’s meteoric rise was cemented with the record-breaking Telugu blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise (2021) opposite Allu Arjun.

Even though she made her debut in Hindi cinema with Goodbye [directed by Vikas Bahl of Queen fame] opposite Amitabh Bachchan and Neena Gupta in 2022, it was Animal (2023) opposite Ranbir Kapoor that made Bollywood sit up and take notice of this force of nature who has some of the biggest releases lined up in 2025, guaranteed to catapult her to superstardom. Facts: Pushpa 2: The Rule is on track to become the third Indian film to cross `1,000 crore in India in less than two weeks since its release.

Is this what you mean by happenstance? Or is it just Rashmika being Rashmika—immersed in the multitude of characters she has portrayed, learning and unlearning the intricacies of the craft she now calls a profession, and enjoying the beauty and magic of cinema, albeit the non-stop tug of promotions that comes with delivering one hit after another? I imagine all this is not easy when I finally meet her for our cover shoot. It turned out both of us landed in Maximum city on the day of the shoot and had to catch a flight back the same day. While she came in the morning on a private chartered flight, and I took the plebeian afternoon flight, Rashmika had a press conference to attend before she made it on set for our cover shoot. Considerably delayed because of the chaotic nature of Mumbai traffic and endless press bytes along with the usual song and dance most film promotions must follow, she walks into the studio with a few hours to spare, visibly tired, refuelling with a quick bite as she sits down for hair and make-up. I see a few clips of her already going viral from the film promotion she is coming from as the crew waits for her inside the studio and the paparazzi are camped outside. But when she is finally in front of the photographer, it’s lights, camera, action... followed by the most to-the-point interview I have ever conducted, given the paucity of time and the box-office domination of Pushpa 2: The Rule.

Pratishtha Dobhal: If you had to name the current ‘era’ of your life that you are in, what would you call it? 

Rashmika Mandanna: I would call this a ‘Golden Era’. 

PD: If there was an OST [Original Sound Track]/song that could define how you are feeling at the moment, what would it be? 

RM: It’s called ‘Peelings’ from Pushpa 2— I don’t know if you’ve heard it. 

PD: What does your phone wallpaper and screen lock look like? Do you change it often? 

RM: I can’t say...it’s too personal. But I do change them based on my mood. 

PD: A recent dream that brought a smile to your face? 

RM: Being on holiday with a couple of my friends after a successful film and chilling by the beach. 

PD: Describe coming home to Coorg. 

RM: The first thing I do when I reach Coorg is roll down my windows and breathe in that fresh air, which has a little scent of fresh rain on the soil with a mix of coffee blossom—I love that fragrance. As I reach home, I can hear my dogs barking away while my mum and dad stand in the doorway and look at me with happiness on their faces. My little sister comes around jumping, opens the door, and we all have a group hug. Once I am inside the house, the first thing I do is put kumkum [red or yellow powder used for religious and social ceremonies] on my forehead, and say a little prayer.

PD: You journal on the gram through your stories, but do you keep a physical journal handy to decompress or write long dear diary letters in? Does it have a name? 

RM: Well...the ‘Dear Diary’ concept actually started from writing the diary and journaling IRL. I am this person who needs to write everything down somewhere, either on a notebook or even a piece of paper I find lying around. I don’t have a specific name though. 

PD: Do you believe you are a manifestation of destiny or relentless perseverance...given you started very young, without any familial connection to the world of entertainment? 

RM: I think I am a manifestation of destiny. Of course there are phases in life where you think ‘I want to be an actor’ but I never thought it was a possibility. I was like, ‘Whatever comes in my life, I need to be the best at it’. It’s destiny that has got me here today—and this has come with a lot of patience, hard work, pushing my boundaries, learning everyday, and respecting my craft as an actor. So, even though I am a manifestation of destiny, I work hard for what I want. 

PD: Take me back to a day in the life of 17-year-old Rashmika. From morning to evening—school, friends, idiosyncrasies as a teenager, extracurricular activities, downtime with folks, interest in sports—the whole deal! 

RM: Seventeen-year-old Rashmika would not have a skincare routine, so she would just wake up and leave for college. In college, I used to always make sure that I was part of some kind of extracurricular activity. I really enjoyed playing sports and dancing. And of course, when I would sit in class, I would be one of the backbenchers, not because I was one of the naughty ones...I just didn’t like being asked questions, or being called to the board to complete a formula or anything like that. So I would sit at the back, hoping no teacher would make eye contact with me. And after that I would go to dance class, come back, and just waste my time away. 

PD: What is your EQ (Emotional Quotient) like on the first day of being on set? 

RM: On set, I am extremely sensitive to everyone’s energies, but at the same time I am comfortable being myself because I think I carry a nice energy around me and we’re all figuring out what to do with the characters and what degree of performance is good for that particular role. So I am very focused on that, majority of the time. And yeah, when you’re meeting a new team and for the next 100 days you’re going to be working closely with them, it’s all about reading their energies, getting to know them, and eventually becoming friends with them. 

PD: When you got to know you were going to be in Goodbye with two legendary actors, how did you feel and who did you reach out to help you navigate through the process of acting in your first Hindi film? 

RM: When I got to know that I was going to be in Goodbye with two legendary actors, I felt very nervous, because that was my first Hindi film. And of course, even though I was very nervous and everyone knew that I am completely new to Hindi films, everyone on set was very sensitive to how I was feeling and doing. So, they made me feel really comfortable. Plus, I reached out to the director. I am a director’s baby, so anything he says and needs, I do—that’s my process of choosing a film and agreeing to do the kind of movies that I have done so far. 

PD: You’ve portrayed a range of characters and easily slip in and out of them. Which character, according to you, really helped you challenge yourself and evolve as an actor and individual? 

RM: I have these characters that have influenced me professionally and personally. Of course, there is Lilly from Dear Comrade, who I think was a very important person in my life, and then there is Srivalli from Pushpa: The Rise and Pushpa 2: The Rule, which has been a great influence in my life, along with Geetanjali from Animal. These three have really shaped up the actor and individual I am today. 

PD: What do you feel has been your greatest achievement so far? 

RM: I think it was the moment when everyone whistled and clapped for my performance in the theatres. 

PD: Who can you be completely honest and real with without any fear of judgement? When was the last time you cried? 

RM: I think being actors or having this personality, you can’t be completely honest or real without the fear of judgement. I feel, to a certain degree, there’s always a fear of being judged, or a fear of hurting someone or all of that. I feel like there is always a fear of something. The day I wrapped up Pushpa, I think I was so overwhelmed with emotions that the film was coming to an end that I cried for three-four hours. I didn’t want the process to end and I guess, a lot was going on that day which made me very emotional. 

PD: What/who gives you the most comfort on tough days? 

RM: My partner. I need my partner in every phase of my life. I need that comfort, security, and empathy.

PD: You and Aura [Rashmika’s dog] have the cutest gram moments. How is it being a pet parent, especially when you are constantly on the move? 

RM: It’s the hardest when you have to leave your baby at home. Today, she is back in Mysore with my mum and dad. I know that she’s safe, but I don’t like it. There’s like this big void when she’s not around, but it’s a sacrifice you have to make for what you do . 

PD: I gather that in a relationship, kindness would be one of the first things you would want to prioritise in your partner...what would be the other four traits that would follow and why? 

RM: My most important thing in a relationship is definitely kindness, but also respect. When you mutually respect one another, genuinely care, and are responsible for one another...it all adds up. Being loving, empathetic, caring, having a good heart, and being truly genuine are the other traits I need, because this is what comes naturally to me. I want to be with someone who has similar qualities and if my partner doesn’t have the same attachment style, we just won’t get along . 

PD: What does being in love mean to you? 

RM: Being in love to me means partnership and companionship. You need a companion in your life. Afterall, if you don’t have them then what’s the point of having this life? You need someone to witness all of your highs and lows, and someone to stand by your side and celebrate life with. 

PD: What’s the one word/slang you’ll almost always be known to use with friends or family? 

RM: ‘Arey’ [Oho], ‘bacchha’ [kid], ‘bro’, ‘Jesus’, and the other two I can’t tell you. 

PD: What are the three things you are grateful for this year and the three things you are looking forward to in 2025? 

RM: The release of Pushpa 2: The Rule and everyone loving it! The amazing friends and family that I have...I would also like to include my fans and would like to wish for everyone’s good health, and thirdly, I am grateful for my health, which has got me through the toughest and happiest of days.

Editor and interview: Pratishtha Dobhal (@pratishtha_dobhal) 
Digital editor: Sonal Ved (@sonalved) 
Photographer: Rahul Jhangiani (@rahuljhangiani)
Stylist: Zunaili Malik (@zunailimalik)
Cover design: Mandeep Singh (@mandy_khokhar19) 
Editorial coordinator: Shalini Kanojia (@shalinikanojia)
Make-up artist: Tanvi Chemburkar (@tanvichemburkar)
Hair artist: Sourav Roy (@souravv_roy_)
Fashion assistant: Saundarya 
Fashion intern: Sanika Kukreja 

On Rashmika (lead image): Fur coat, Qua (@qua.clothing); ear cuffs, Tuula (@tuula.jewellery); sandaloo pumps, Christian Louboutin (@louboutinworld).