During promotions for her film The Girlfriend, actor Rashmika Mandanna opened up about her past and present relationships. While she and actor Vijay Deverakonda have kept their engagement low-key, his affectionate gesture at the recent promotional event—kissing her hand on stage—made headlines and delighted fans.
Rashmika on a Past Relationship Without Choice
In a conversation with anchor Suma, Rashmika reflected on relationship dynamics that mirror the characters in The Girlfriend. She shared that she once felt she was in a relationship without her consent or choice, similar to her character Bhooma in the film.
“You should choose who you want to be with. You shouldn’t be in a position where you have no choice but you’re still with a partner. I have been in that situation. Today, when I choose someone, I’m happy, that person is happy, and everyone around us is happy,” she said.
Vijay Deverakonda Helped Heal Pain He Didn’t Cause
Rashmika also spoke emotionally about how Vijay supported her during a difficult period, helping her heal from experiences unrelated to him.
“Luckily, I have a partner who has healed me from a pain he didn’t cause. Just like the film has been cathartic for me, he has played an equal role in helping me heal. I have to acknowledge that and thank him,” she said.
How Vijay Helps Her Handle Online Trolls
The actor has often faced intense trolling online. Rashmika revealed that during stressful moments, Vijay encourages her not to overthink or get affected by negativity.
“When I tell him I’m being trolled, he says there’s nothing like that and asks why I’m overthinking. He says he doesn’t even notice it. But I see it—people even tag me to make sure I do,” she explained.
Rashmika and Vijay: A Timeline
Rashmika and Vijay worked together in Geetha Govindam (2018) and Dear Comrade (2019), becoming one of South cinema’s most loved on-screen pairs. The couple got engaged in October 2025, although they have chosen to remain private about the details.
Before this, Rashmika was previously engaged to Kannada actor Rakshit Shetty, but the engagement ended in 2018.
