Actor Rashmika Mandanna has been in the spotlight for multiple reasons in recent weeks. Just days after tying the knot with Vijay Deverakonda in an intimate ceremony in Udaipur on February 26, the actor has found herself back in the headlines as an old video from the Dear Comrade era resurfaces online. The clip, which shows Rashmika opening up about the personal struggles she faced while choosing to act in the film, has begun circulating again amid an ongoing controversy involving an alleged leaked audio conversation linked to her family.
The resurfaced video comes from a pre-release event of the 2019 romantic drama Dear Comrade, where Rashmika spoke candidly about the resistance she faced while building her career in the film industry. Looking emotional on stage, the actor revealed that stepping into cinema had not been an easy decision for her or her family.
Rashmika once revealed she had to fight to pursue acting
During the event, Rashmika explained that her entry into films came after considerable disagreement within her family circle. She shared that there was a strong perception around her that the film industry was not a safe space for women, particularly for someone without a film background. Despite those concerns, she said she remained determined to follow her ambitions.
The actor also spoke about the challenges she faced when she decided to reunite with Vijay Deverakonda for Dear Comrade, their second film together after the massive success of Geetha Govindam in 2018. According to Rashmika, convincing her family to accept the project turned into a serious argument at home.
She recalled that when director Bharat Kamma approached her with the script, she immediately connected with the story and wanted to be part of the film. However, family members were hesitant about her working with Vijay again, and she had to strongly defend her choice. For Rashmika, the decision was about the character and the story rather than the co-star.
The film eventually released in 2019 and featured Rashmika playing the role of Lilly, a determined cricketer who forms a complex relationship with Vijay’s rebellious student leader character. The film’s bold storytelling and emotional intensity drew attention, but Rashmika also faced heavy trolling online for a romantic kiss scene shared with Vijay in the movie.
Vijay Deverakonda once acknowledged her struggles
At the same event, Vijay Deverakonda publicly praised Rashmika for standing by the role despite the difficulties she faced. The actor described Lilly as the emotional core of the film and said that Rashmika’s performance brought the character to life.
Vijay also acknowledged that accepting the film had affected parts of Rashmika’s personal life, adding that she remained committed to the role even while dealing with criticism and pressure around her. He credited her dedication for making the character memorable for audiences.
Interestingly, after Dear Comrade, the pair did not collaborate again for several years despite their strong on-screen chemistry. Their pairing had been widely appreciated by fans since Geetha Govindam, which remains one of the most popular romantic films in Telugu cinema in recent years.
The two actors are now set to reunite once again for an upcoming film titled Ranabaali, marking their first professional collaboration after years of speculation and fan demand.
Viral audio controversy adds to the attention
The resurfaced video comes at a time when Rashmika is already dealing with another controversy. A leaked audio clip that recently circulated online is allegedly of her mother Suman Mandanna speaking about Rashmika’s former fiancé Rakshit Shetty and past events connected to the actor’s career.
The recording, which appears to have been taken from a private conversation or interview, quickly spread across social media and triggered discussions about Rashmika’s personal life and her earlier engagement.
Rashmika addressed the issue through her Instagram stories, strongly criticizing the circulation of the clip. She said that for nearly eight years she has faced what she described as a sustained campaign of misinformation and targeted harassment from certain sections of media and online communities.
According to the actor, the audio being shared online was taken out of context and involved a private conversation that was never meant for public circulation. She stated that spreading such material amounts to a serious invasion of privacy and warned that legal action could follow if platforms failed to remove the content within 24 hours.
A complicated chapter from her past
Rashmika’s relationship with Rakshit Shetty dates back to 2016, when the two actors met on the sets of the Kannada blockbuster Kirik Party. Their on-screen pairing quickly turned into a real-life relationship, and the couple got engaged in 2017.
However, the engagement was called off in 2018, shortly before Rashmika began expanding her career into Telugu cinema with films like Geetha Govindam and later Dear Comrade. The breakup attracted significant public attention at the time, and discussions around it have occasionally resurfaced in the years since.
Final Words
Despite the controversies and resurfaced memories from earlier phases of her career, Rashmika Mandanna continues to remain one of the most prominent young actors in Indian cinema today. With a major wedding making headlines, a reunion project with Vijay Deverakonda on the horizon, and ongoing conversations around her past, the actor once again finds herself at the center of public attention.
For fans, however, the old Dear Comrade clip also serves as a reminder of how determined Rashmika has been about carving her own path in the industry — even when the journey came with personal struggles.
