Who Is Rashmika Mandanna?
Rashmika Mandanna is an Indian actress who works in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi cinema. She was born on 5 April 1996 in Virajpet, Karnataka, which makes her 30 years old in October 2026. Over about ten years she has moved from a small-town girl in the coffee hills of Kodagu to one of the best-known faces in Indian cinema. Her films have been seen across language barriers, and she is often described as a true pan-India star.
This guide covers her early life, her rise in films, her biggest hits, her awards, her marriage, and the movies that are coming next.
Early Life and Education
Rashmika grew up in Virajpet in the Kodagu district of Karnataka. She attended Coorg Public School, a boarding school, and later moved to Bengaluru for college. She studied psychology, journalism and English literature while she was also trying her luck in modelling. In 2014 she won the Clean & Clear Times Fresh Face title, and that win opened the door to films.
How Her Film Career Began
Her acting debut came with the Kannada romantic comedy Kirik Party in 2016. Rishab Shetty offered her the role opposite Rakshit Shetty. The film was a big hit, and it earned her the SIIMA award for Best Debut Actress in Kannada. Her first Telugu release was Chalo in 2018, and the same year she appeared in Geetha Govindam opposite Vijay Deverakonda. That film made her a household name in Telugu cinema and brought her a Filmfare Award South (Critics) for Best Actress in Telugu.
She followed this with Dear Comrade in 2019, her second film with Vijay Deverakonda, and then Sarileru Neekevvaru in 2020. Her Tamil debut, Sulthan, arrived in 2021. In Tamil she later acted in Varisu (2023), and in Hindi her first film was Goodbye in 2022.
The Pan-India Breakthrough
The turning point was Pushpa: The Rise (2021), in which she played Srivalli opposite Allu Arjun. The film’s pan-India success and her supporting role in the period drama Sita Ramam earned her wider critical recognition. The Srivalli character became hugely popular, and the film’s songs and dialogues spread across social media far beyond the Telugu-speaking states.
Her Hindi career took off with Animal (2023), where she played Geetanjali Singh opposite Ranbir Kapoor. Animal, Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024) and Chhaava (2025) are all counted among the highest-grossing Indian films. In Chhaava she played Yesubai Bhonsale, the queen of Maratha ruler Sambhaji Maharaj. She also appeared in Sikandar (2025) and Kuberaa (2025), the latter alongside Dhanush and Nagarjuna.
In November 2025 she headlined the romantic drama The Girlfriend, co-starring Dheekshith Shetty. This was a smaller, character-driven film, and it showed her interest in stories built around a woman’s point of view rather than only big commercial entertainers.
Awards and Recognition
Rashmika has collected several honours from the South Indian film industry. She has won four SIIMA awards, including Best Debut Actress in Kannada for Kirik Party and Best Actress in Telugu for Geetha Govindam and Pushpa: The Rise. She also won the Filmfare Award South (Critics) mentioned above. For Pushpa 2: The Rule she won the SIIMA Award for Best Actress. Awards lists are updated every year, so it is worth checking the official SIIMA and Filmfare websites for the latest count.
Marriage to Vijay Deverakonda
For years fans guessed about her bond with Vijay Deverakonda, her co-star in Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade. People close to the couple said they got engaged privately on 3 October 2025, and neither actor made a public announcement at the time.
The wedding was held later. The couple announced that they would marry on 26 February 2026 in Udaipur, Rajasthan, and fans online began calling them “Virosh.” A few days later they hosted a large reception in Hyderabad, attended by film stars such as Allu Arjun, Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan and Nagarjuna. The couple has kept most details of their personal life private, so only information they or reliable outlets have confirmed should be trusted.
Her Most Recent Release: Cocktail 2
Her latest theatrical release is the Hindi romantic comedy Cocktail 2, directed by Homi Adajania. It reached theatres on 19 June 2026 and moved to Netflix on 14 August 2026. It stars Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon along with Rashmika, who plays Diya. Reviews at release were mixed to negative, yet the film held up reasonably at the box office. Its lifetime India net collection was reported at roughly ₹104.56 crore.
Upcoming Rashmika Mandanna Movies
Ranabaali (release: 16 October 2026). This is a period action drama directed by Rahul Sankrityan and produced by Mythri Movie Makers. It is set during the British colonial era and is her third film with Vijay Deverakonda after Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade. The trailer shows her as the wife of Vijay’s character, and the music is by Ajay-Atul. The release is timed for the Dussehra festive period.
Mysaa (release: 27 November 2026). This is a Telugu action thriller with a multilingual release, and it is her most physically demanding project so far. The banner UnFormula Films announced the worldwide release date on 1 September. The film is described as an emotional action thriller set against the backdrop of the Gond tribes. During shooting she suffered a hip injury and was advised rest, and in late August she shared that she would soon return to work.
Other projects have been rumoured in the press, including a third Pushpa film, but no official confirmation was found in reliable reports at the time of writing, so it is best to wait for announcements from the makers.
Why Fans Connect With Rashmika Mandanna
Several things explain her wide appeal. She has worked in four industries in a short span, and she has played very different women: a college student, a village girl, a queen, a modern urban professional. Her warm screen presence and lively social media activity also keep her close to fans, who often follow even small updates about her pets, travel and work days. At the same time, she has been willing to take on physically hard roles, as Mysaa shows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Rashmika Mandanna? She was born on 5 April 1996, so she is 30 years old as of October 2026.
Which was Rashmika Mandanna’s first film? Her debut was the Kannada film Kirik Party (2016).
Who is Rashmika Mandanna’s husband? She is married to actor Vijay Deverakonda. The wedding was reported for 26 February 2026 in Udaipur.
What are her biggest hits? Pushpa: The Rise, Pushpa 2: The Rule, Animal and Chhaava are among her biggest commercial successes.
What is her next movie? Ranabaali is due on 16 October 2026, followed by Mysaa on 27 November 2026.
Final Thoughts
In ten years Rashmika Mandanna has built a career that few actors in India can match for range and reach. With Ranabaali and Mysaa arriving within weeks of each other, the last months of 2026 look important for her. Fans who want accurate updates are best served by following official announcements from the film banners and the actress herself.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is based on publicly available information as of 13 October 2026. Film release dates, box office numbers and award counts can change, and some personal-life details come from media reports rather than official statements. This site has no connection with Rashmika Mandanna or her team. Please check official sources before relying on any detail.
EXPLORE MORE: Claire Danes: Age, Career, Awards, Family and What She Is Doing Now
I’m Muhammad Ubaid, founder of YBR Magazine. I research and write detailed guides on America’s National Parks — covering entry fees, permits, best times to visit, and planning tips — using official NPS sources and up-to-date information.
