Strong writing allows women to shine on screen: Rashmika Mandanna

Moving beyond the bubbly, lighthearted roles that defined her stardom, Rashmika Mandanna’s recent projects — led by the intense thriller The Girlfriend and the upcoming Mysaa — signal a transition toward gritty, female-led narratives. Rashmika, however, insists that this evolution has not come from a deliberate change in strategy. “I don’t think my approach to choosing films or scripts will change. I take up projects because I genuinely want to do them, and that remains the same,” she says.

What she does hope for is a broader change within the industry. “I hope that more directors and writers create strong, meaningful roles for women. It’s important — women have the ability, the screen presence, and the depth to deliver powerful performances. When we’re given well-written characters, we can truly do justice to them. I also hope more women step forward to tell their own stories and make films.”

Looking ahead, Rashmika is keen on exploring a wider range of genres. “Biopics deeply fascinate me, and so do period films,” she says, adding that she resists the idea of limiting herself creatively. “I don’t like placing boundaries on myself; I want to explore everything. I feel like I’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of different genres, and there’s still so much more to discover.”


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