Rashmika Opens Up About Struggles After Fame

Rashmika Mandanna isn’t pretending it was easy. She spoke honestly about how acting was never the plan, and definitely not something her family encouraged. “My dad wanted me in the family business,” she said. Coming from a background where films were seen as a bad choice, especially for women, she had to push through not just public pressure, but pressure at home. “I didn’t have it figured out. I just went for it.”

When asked about the backlash around Animal, she didn’t dodge it. “Watch a movie like a movie,” she said. She doesn’t believe films shape every viewer, and if someone doesn’t like what they see, they’re free to walk away. “There’s a reason people enjoyed it. The story was told, and that’s the job.”

It’s been almost a decade since she stepped in front of the camera. She doesn’t romanticize it. “It’s been hard,” she admitted. The fight isn’t just getting there, it’s staying there. Especially for women. “Actresses are doing great work,” she said, “but holding on to that success, that’s the real test.” Rashmika’s not chasing a spotlight. She’s just learning how to stand in it without losing herself.