Rashmika Mandanna is one of the few Indian actresses who has built a successful career in four film industries: Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi. She began as a college student who won a modelling contest, and she is now a face of pan-Indian cinema. In 2026 she also became the subject of national headlines after her wedding to actor Vijay Deverakonda. This article covers her life, her career, her awards and what she has coming next.
Rashmika Mandanna at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Rashmika Mandanna |
| Date of birth | April 5, 1996 (age 30) |
| Birthplace | Virajpet, Kodagu district, Karnataka, India |
| Profession | Actress, brand ambassador |
| Languages of work | Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in psychology, journalism and English literature, M. S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Bengaluru |
| Spouse | Vijay Deverakonda (married February 26, 2026) |
| Film debut | Kirik Party (2016) |
Early life and education
Rashmika was born into a Kodava Hindu family in Virajpet, a town in the hill district of Kodagu, which is also known as Coorg. Her father owns a coffee estate and a function hall in the town, and her mother is a homemaker. She has a younger sister named Shiman, and Rashmika has said she felt almost like a second mother to her. She has also spoken about money being tight in her childhood, and she says those years still shape how she thinks about money.
She attended Coorg Public School, a boarding school in Gonikoppal, and later moved to Bengaluru for college. As a child she often struggled to communicate and connect with classmates, and she calls her mother her biggest strength. Her college years in Bengaluru turned out to be the starting point of her career.
From a beauty contest to Kirik Party
In 2014 Rashmika won the Clean & Clear Fresh Face contest run by The Times of India, which made her a brand ambassador for the product and launched a short modelling career. She received several film offers during this period but turned them down, because she had not planned to become an actress. A college professor eventually encouraged her to audition. After she signed her first film, her parents were nervous at first but gave their blessing.
Her debut came with the Kannada romantic comedy Kirik Party (2016), where she played Saanvi opposite Rakshit Shetty. The film became the highest-grossing Kannada release of its year, and she won the SIIMA Award for Best Debut Actress. She has said that if the film had flopped, she would have gone home to help with her father’s business. Two more Kannada successes followed in 2017, Anjani Putra and Chamak, and Chamak brought her first Best Actress nominations at Filmfare South and SIIMA.
Breakthrough in Telugu cinema
Rashmika entered Telugu cinema in 2018 with Chalo, a comedy drama in which she had to learn a new language on the job. The same year she starred in Geetha Govindam opposite Vijay Deverakonda. It was made on a modest budget but became her first film to cross ₹100 crore at the domestic box office, and it earned her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress in Telugu. Their on-screen chemistry was widely praised and led to a second film together, Dear Comrade (2019), where she played a state-level cricketer and trained for five months to look convincing in the role.
She then worked with top stars in Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020) with Mahesh Babu and Bheeshma (2020) with Nithiin, both commercial successes. In 2021 she made her Tamil debut in Sulthan opposite Karthi, and later appeared in the Tamil film Varisu (2023) with Vijay.
The Pushpa effect and pan-Indian fame
The film that took her to every corner of the country was Pushpa: The Rise (2021), in which she played Srivalli opposite Allu Arjun. She learned the Chittoor dialect of Telugu for the part, and the song “Saami Saami” became a nationwide hit. The sequel, Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024), set several records and ranks among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time, earning more than ₹1,800 crore worldwide. Her performance won her the SIIMA Award for Best Actress in Telugu.
Success in Hindi cinema
Her Hindi debut was Goodbye (2022), a family drama with Amitabh Bachchan and Neena Gupta that did poorly at the box office but won her the Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut. Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga then cast her as Geetanjali in Animal (2023) alongside Ranbir Kapoor, a film that earned over ₹900 crore worldwide but also drew criticism for its portrayal of masculinity. She has defended her role by saying the character acts out of a wish to protect her family.
In 2025 she appeared in Chhaava, a historical drama in which she played Maharani Yesubai opposite Vicky Kaushal. She and Kaushal spent four weeks learning Marathi for their roles. The film grossed more than ₹800 crore, and she became the first Indian actress with three films that crossed ₹500 crore. Sikandar with Salman Khan the same year did not recover its budget. She also appeared in the Telugu-Tamil film Kuberaa with Dhanush and the horror comedy Thamma with Ayushmann Khurrana, which was commercially underwhelming.
Recent work: The Girlfriend and Cocktail 2
Many critics see The Girlfriend (2025) as her most mature work. She played a young woman trapped in an emotionally abusive relationship, and reviewers praised the subtlety of her performance. The film itself did not do well at the box office, but she has said it showed that she can work as an actor and not only as a glamorous heroine. In June 2026 she appeared in the Hindi romantic comedy Cocktail 2 alongside Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon. She said she was nervous about taking a lighter role after being known for intense ones, and the film received mixed reviews.
Awards and recognition
Rashmika has won four SIIMA Awards and one Filmfare Award South. Her main wins are:
- SIIMA Best Debut Actress (Kannada) for Kirik Party
- SIIMA Critics Best Actress for Yajamana (Kannada) and Dear Comrade (Telugu)
- Filmfare South Critics Award for Best Actress (Telugu) for Geetha Govindam
- Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut for Goodbye
- SIIMA Best Actress (Telugu) for Pushpa 2: The Rule
She was also named in the Forbes India 30 Under 30 list in 2024. She is widely described as one of the highest-paid actresses in India, though exact earnings and net worth figures that circulate online are estimates and not officially confirmed.
Personal life
Rashmika began dating her Kirik Party co-star Rakshit Shetty during the film, and they got engaged in July 2017. They ended the engagement in September 2018 and cited compatibility issues. Rumours about her and Vijay Deverakonda began around 2020, but both stayed private about it for years. News reports said the two got engaged in October 2025, and in February 2026 they announced their wedding with a joint message that called it “The Wedding of VIROSH”, a name fans had created for them.
The couple married on February 26, 2026, in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The day began with a Telugu ceremony in the morning and was followed by a Kodava ceremony in the evening to honour her heritage. Their wedding photographs became the most-liked Instagram post in India. A reception was planned for March 4 in Hyderabad.
Brands, public image and the deepfake case
Rashmika endorses many well-known products, including McDonald’s, Dabur Honey, Cashify, Kalyan Jewellers and Bisk Farm. She was the first Indian ambassador for the Japanese brand Onitsuka Tiger, walked at Milan Fashion Week for them, and became India’s Swarovski ambassador in 2025. She is also an investor and ambassador for the vegan beauty brand Plum.
In November 2023 a deepfake video that used her face went viral, which started a national discussion about AI misuse. She spoke publicly about how frightening it was, the Delhi Police registered a case, and a suspect was arrested in January 2024. Later she was named national brand ambassador for the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, which works on cybercrime awareness.
Criticism she has faced
Rashmika’s career has not been free of criticism. Reviewers have often pointed out that she plays the love interest in male-centred films, and some have said her Hindi dialogue delivery needs work. She has responded that she follows her instincts when choosing films and that success is not only about box-office numbers. Her work in The Girlfriend shows she is willing to take on roles that go in a different direction.
Upcoming films
Her next major release is Ranabaali, a period action drama directed by Rahul Sankrityan, in which she plays Jayamma opposite Vijay Deverakonda. It is their first film together since marriage and their third overall. The makers moved the release from September 11 to October 16, 2026, which is the Dussehra period, though you should confirm the date on official channels before booking tickets. She is also leading Mysaa, a Telugu action thriller directed by Rawindra Pulle, in which she plays a woman from the Gond tribe. It has a worldwide release date of November 27, 2026. Reports say she suffered a hip injury during shoots and was advised six weeks of rest. Further projects, including another film in the Pushpa series, have been reported but have no confirmed release date.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Rashmika Mandanna? She was born on April 5, 1996, so she is 30 years old as of October 2026.
Who is Rashmika Mandanna’s husband? Her husband is the Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda, whom she married in Udaipur on February 26, 2026.
What was Rashmika Mandanna’s first film? Her first film was the Kannada romantic comedy Kirik Party in 2016.
Which are her biggest hits? Her highest-earning films include Pushpa 2: The Rule, Chhaava and Animal.
Why is she called “National Crush”? The nickname became popular in the media after her rise in Pushpa and her growing popularity across language industries. It is a media label and not an official title.
Conclusion
Rashmika Mandanna’s story is about steady growth, from a small-town student in Kodagu to a leading name in Indian cinema. She has succeeded in different languages, handled both praise and criticism in public, and now begins a new chapter as a married actress with several important films ahead. For fans and readers alike, Ranabaali and Mysaa will be the next big tests of her career.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and was prepared from publicly available information as of October 12, 2026. Release dates, box-office numbers, relationship news and project details can change, and some figures come from media reports that are not officially confirmed. Please check official announcements before relying on any detail. This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by Rashmika Mandanna or her representatives, and all names and trademarks belong to their owners.
EXPLORE MORE: Claire Danes: Biography, Career, Awards, Family and What She Is Doing Now
[…] EXPLORE MORE: Rashmika Mandanna: Biography, Age, Movies, Awards, Marriage and Upcoming Films (2026) […]