Rashmika Mandanna: The Rise of South India’s National Crush
Rashmika Mandanna is one of the brightest and most diverse stars in Indian cinema. She has gone from being a model in a small town to one of South India’s highest-paid actresses at the age of 29. She has won awards, made billions at the box office, and earned the nickname “National Crush of India.” Mandanna’s career in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi movies shows that she is strong, charming, and never gives up on her goals. Her star is still rising as of 2025, thanks to big hits and daring moves into new areas.
Early Life: Born and raised in the Hills of Kodagu
Rashmika Mandanna was born on April 5, 1996, in Virajpet, a small town in Karnataka’s Kodagu district that is surrounded by misty hills. She grew up in a middle-class family in a Kodava Hindu family, surrounded by coffee estates and cultural traditions. Madan Mandanna is her father and manages a coffee plantation and event hall. Suman Mandanna is her mother and stays at home. Rashmika and her younger sister Shiman are very close. She often calls her “little one” because she took care of her when things were hard.
There were problems when I was a kid. The family had money problems, like trouble paying rent and staying stable, which had a lasting effect on Rashmika’s down-to-earth personality and her frugal way of handling money. She went to Coorg Public School in Gonikoppal, where she had trouble talking to people and was shy. Her mother’s constant support helped her feel better. Later, she went to M.S. Ramaiah College in Bengaluru to get a bachelor’s degree in psychology, journalism, and English literature, but she dropped out to follow her dreams of becoming a model and actress.
In 2014, she won the Clean & Clear Fresh Face contest, which made her a brand ambassador and brought her into the public eye. This win changed her life by giving her the chance to do ads and, eventually, movies. Rashmika’s determination won over her family, even though they were worried about how introverted she was at first.
Breaking into Cinema: A Great First Movie in Kannada
Rashmika’s journey as an actress began in Kannada movies with the 2016 romantic comedy Kirik Party, which Rishab Shetty directed. As the lively college student Saanvi opposite Rakshit Shetty, she won over audiences with her natural expressions and girl-next-door charm. The movie was a huge success, and in 2017 she won the SIIMA Award for Best Female Debut Actress (Kannada) and was given the nickname “Karnataka Crush.”
With this success, she went on to have two more: the action-packed Anjani Putra (2017) and the romantic drama Chamak (2017). The latter earned her her first Best Actress nominations at the Filmfare Awards South and SIIMA. Yajamana, which starred Darshan and Yajamana, was another commercial success in 2019, running for 100 days in theaters. Critics, on the other hand, pointed out the unusual age gap in the casting. These early roles made her a star in Sandalwood who could easily mix comedy, romance, and action.
Blockbusters and breakthroughs that rule Telugu cinema
Rashmika’s rise to fame across India really took off in Telugu films. Her first movie, the 2018 comedy-drama Chalo, was her fourth straight box office hit. But it was Geetha Govindam (2018), with Vijay Deverakonda, that changed the course of her career. The romantic comedy made more than ₹1 billion in India, and she won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu, making her the best romantic lead ever.
She then made Dear Comrade (2019), in which she played an aspiring cricketer and went through intense physical training to make it look real, but the movie didn’t do well at the box office. Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020) and Bheeshma (2020) were big hits that kept her in the spotlight. They were both among the top-grossing Telugu movies of the year. She became famous all over India for her role as Srivalli in Pushpa: The Rise (2021), especially for the viral song “Saami Saami.” She was nominated for SIIMA and Filmfare awards.
Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024), the sequel, broke records by making over ₹18 billion worldwide and becoming the third-highest-grossing Indian movie of all time. Rashmika played Srivalli again with grace, but her roles in these male-dominated epics have led to discussions about how little depth women can have. Devadas (2018), Aadavaallu Meeku Johaarlu (2022), and the new The Girlfriend (2025), which stars a woman, are some of her other Telugu gems.
Going into Tamil and Hindi: Broadening Your Horizons
Rashmika made her Tamil film debut in Sulthan (2021) with Karthi. The movie did okay, but reviews of her performance were mixed. Varisu with Vijay added to her list in 2023, but critics said it was still not very important.
Her first Hindi movie, Goodbye (2022), with Amitabh Bachchan, wasn’t very successful, but it won her the Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut. After that came Mission Majnu (2023) with Sidharth Malhotra, but Animal (2023), directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Ranbir Kapoor, was a huge hit. As the devoted Geetanjali, she helped the movie make more than ₹9 billion, making it the third highest-grossing Indian film of the year. However, critics like Sukanya Verma said her role was “wearing a nose ring and smiling.”
In 2025, Chhaava saw her as Maharani Yesubai Bhonsale opposite Vicky Kaushal in a historical action movie. Sikandar with Salman Khan and Kuberaa with Dhanush both had problems at the box office. Thama (a Maddock Horror Comedy with Ayushmann Khurrana), Cocktail 2 (with Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon, filming from August 2025), and Pushpa 3: The Rampage are all coming out soon and promise more fireworks.
A shelf full of trophies for awards and honors
People have noticed Rashmika’s talent. She has four SIIMA Awards, including Best Actress – Telugu for Pushpa: The Rise (2022), and a Filmfare Award South. In September 2025, she won Best Actress—Telugu at the 13th SIIMA for Pushpa 2: The Rule. In 2024, she made it onto Forbes India’s “30 Under 30” list. In 2023, she won the Bollywood Hungama Style Icon Award and was the most influential person on social media. Her endorsements for brands like Clean & Clear give her a wider audience, making her a marketing powerhouse.
Love, heartbreak, and rumors in my personal life
Rashmika’s real-life story is just as interesting as the ones she tells on screen. She met Rakshit Shetty on the set of Kirik Party. They got engaged in 2017 but broke up in 2018. There have been rumors about her and Vijay Deverakonda for a long time, thanks to their chemistry in Geetha Govindam and recent sightings, like their trip to the US and appearance at the New York India Day Parade in 2025. A mysterious picture of a ring and family milestones sparked rumors of an engagement, but she is still being coy, saying that home is her “happy place.”
In January 2025, Sikandar, Kuberaa, and Thama had to wait to shoot because of an injury at the gym. This tested her strength. She talks a lot about how her emotions have been affected. In interviews, she has said that she misses her sister’s childhood and that she has lost touch with her roots after being away from home for a year.
Controversies: From Deepfakes to Fights in the Region
There have been some problems with Mandanna’s fame. A deepfake video from 2023 went viral, leading to a FIR and her being named National Ambassador for Cyber Safety by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre in October 2024. She talked about it on Instagram, showing how online harassment leaves scars. In an interview in 2025, she said she was “from Hyderabad,” which upset her Kannada fans, who said she was distancing herself from her Kodagu roots. She got through the storm with apologies and cultural references.
Critics also question the movies she picks, which are often “androcentric narratives” that limit her range, like in the backlash against Animal.
Legacy: A Smell of Success and Stories That Are Still to Come
Rashmika Mandanna is more than just an actress; she’s a phenomenon. She mixes her Kodava roots with a global appeal, box-office success with real emotion. From Kirik Party’s innocence to Pushpa’s fire, she’s changed what it means to be a star while also promoting self-love and cyber safety. As Thama, Cocktail 2, and more come out, one thing is for sure: Rashmika’s story isn’t over yet. She said, “Be a miracle.” And she is.