As his upcoming film The Girlfriend, starring Rashmika Mandanna and Dheekshith Shetty, gears up for release on November 7, Director Rahul Ravindran spoke to Deccan Chronicle and shared thoughtful insights about the story, Rashmika’s performance, and his approach to storytelling.

“When I sent the story to Rashmika, she didn’t look at it as a woman-centric film,” Rahul said in a recent chat. “She simply connected with the characters and emotions. She was excited to collaborate with Dheekshith, a young actor, even after working with some of the industry’s biggest stars.”

Calling Rashmika “a powerhouse of talent”, he added, “She’s a joy to work with, friendly, spontaneous, and constantly bubbling with energy. Every day, she walks onto the set ready to try something new, and that enthusiasm pushes everyone else to do better.”

The director also revealed that Rashmika’s attitude hasn’t changed despite her massive successes in Pushpa and Animal. “There was absolutely no shift in her work ethic,” he said. “She remained grounded and delivered a nuanced performance as a girl-next-door with her own convictions. It’s a love story, yes, but also a very emotionally layered one.”

Backed by Dheeraj Mogilineni Entertainment with Allu Aravind presenting, The Girlfriend also features Rao Ramesh and Rohini in key roles. Music by Hesham Abdul Wahab has already struck a chord online, with ‘Em Jarugutundi’ trending across platforms.

For Rahul, who last directed Manmadhudu 2, The Girlfriend marks a return to heartfelt storytelling. And as Rashmika continues to juggle major projects in Telugu and Hindi.