Rashmika Mandana reflects on 2025; ‘The Girlfriend’ actress says, ‘I’m very proud of the year I have had’ – Exclusive |

The curtains are closing on 2025, and looking back, there have been several cinematic gems that graced the silver screen in the year. Several movies and performers got their names engraved on the 70MM, and one of them is Rashmika Mandanna. She started the year with ‘Chaava’ and ended it with ‘The Girlfriend,’ proving her versatility. While speaking to us, she reflected on her journey of 2025 and said, “I’m very proud of the year I have had.”She continued, “Though it doesn’t mean every year will be like this; Maybe things will get better, or maybe they’ll stay the same—but for all the work I put in, it means a lot to see my friends, family, and extended family happy for me.”

“That happiness reflects on me. I feel extremely proud, deeply content, joyful, and loved for everything I received in 2025. I’m truly happy,” she added.

Rashmika Mandanna on maintaining a balance between her on-screen roles and off-screen personality

With her diverse roles, Rashmika proved her mettle in every genre. Especially, with roles like ‘The Girlfriend’ in a subtle yet impactful way, she touched many lives, especially those of women in society. However, this role didn’t come with any burden to the star, as all she did was stay true to herself. “I’m a woman, and I’ve always been a girls’ girl. I’ve always shown up for the women in my life, and today I’m simply showing up for the women in my extended family,” she said before adding, “There’s no real difference for me: I’m just being myself and staying true.”

Rashmika Mandanna’s thank-you note to ‘The Girlfriend’ director

“I’m deeply grateful that people felt comfortable creating this. I kept telling my director, Rahul Ravindran, how thankful I am that a man could understand a woman so intimately and sensitively, and feel confident enough to write a character like this,” the actress said while in conversation with us. “I’m also grateful to the producers who were willing to invest in telling a story from a woman’s perspective,” she continued to express.

The end note

She concluded the conversation by saying, “I’m happy to see more stories like ‘The Girlfriend’ being written, and more directors and producers coming together to make them happen. It truly makes me happy, because there should be many more films told through a female lens—and that’s finally happening. It’s not just about me. There will be many more artists who come forward with incredibly special stories and performances. In that sense, if there is a responsibility, it’s to continue telling honest stories from a woman’s perspective—and I promise I’ll keep working hard to do justice to that.”