When Rashmika Mandanna defended director Sandeep Reddy Vanga; said he had ‘utmost respect’ for women

Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the filmmaker behind ‘Kabir Singh’ and ‘Animal’, has once again landed in the middle of controversy, this time over a reported fallout with Deepika Padukone regarding his upcoming film ‘Spirit’.

According to reports, Deepika, who recently embraced motherhood, was dropped from the project after disagreements over remuneration and working hours. Allegedly, Deepika requested an 8-hour workday and a fee upwards of Rs 20 crore, demands that reportedly clashed with Vanga’s plans.

But this isn’t the first time the director’s name has stirred heated debate. When Animal hit screens, the film sparked widespread discussions about the portrayal of toxic masculinity and problematic relationship dynamics. Yet, despite the backlash, Animal actress Rashmika Mandanna stood firmly in support of Vanga, offering a very different perspective.

In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Rashmika praised both Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Pushpa 2 director Sukumar for how they treat and write female characters. “What I have seen in Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Sukumar sir is their utmost respect towards a woman,” Rashmika said. “They don’t look at women as creatures who need help — they think that women are powerful. It comes through their craft.”

She went on to explain that her characters, Geetanjali (Animal) and Srivalli (Pushpa), reflect this respect. Despite being surrounded by violent and dominant male leads like Ranvijay or Pushpa, both women show immense courage by standing up to them when they are wrong. Rashmika added, “Voicing that up takes courage. Vanga and Sukumar think that a woman standing up against a man who can kill 200 people is possible because of their respect towards women.”

Rashmika emphasised that this portrayal isn’t just coincidental; it’s embedded in how these directors view women. “If you go to the depth of it, you will see the love and respect they have for women. That’s how I was seeing it and portrayed it,” she said. While she acknowledged playing damsel-in-distress roles in the past, Rashmika called it an “honour” to portray such empowered women in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s films.







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