Rashmika Mandanna and Dheekshith Shetty starrer The Girlfriend has been making waves ever since its trailer release. Rahul Ravindran directs the movie, which will have a grand theatrical release on November 7, 2025, in various languages — Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam. Presented by Allu Aravind under the banner Geetha Arts, the movie guarantees an intense and insightful look at modern relationships.
Recently, there was an interesting behind-the-scenes fact about the casting revealed. Director Rahul Ravindran had first approached Arjun Reddy and Animal director Sandeep Reddy Vanga for a cameo. But Sandeep rejected the offer, saying that the character was not a cameo. The character was then offered to popular comedian Vennela Kishore, and he too refused. Finally, Rahul Ravindran took the decision to act himself.
The Girlfriend delves into the darker and more emotional aspects of love, control, and obsession. The trailer starts off with Rashmika’s character seeming tense and requesting a break from her boyfriend, played by Dheekshith Shetty. The film then cuts to when they were in a better phase in their relationship and how Dheekshith’s character turned out to be obsessive. What begins as a fiery romance gradually turns into a suffocating affair, with Rashmika’s character being trapped and yearning to break free. The tone and theme of the trailer have led to comparisons with Kabir Singh, indicating a dramatic, emotionally driven plot.
Rashmika Mandanna posted the trailer on Instagram, captioning it, “This one’s not your usual love story… it’ll make you think.” Fans welcomed the actress’s choice of role with enthusiasm in the comments, appreciative that she had opted for a non-traditional role. The release of the trailer also encouraged speculation online, arriving just a day after news of Rashmika’s supposed engagement to Vijay Deverakonda broke online.
The Girlfriend boasts a robust support cast in the form of Koushik Mahata, Rohini, and Rao Ramesh. The soundtrack for the movie is by Hesham Abdul Wahab, who is known for his soulful tunes, and cinematography is done by Krishnan Vasant. Production design is by S. Rama Krishna and Monika Nigotre, and the editor is Chota K. Prasad. Directed by Dheeraj Mogilineni and Vidya Koppineedi, The Girlfriend is well on its way to becoming an intriguing psychological drama with a deep exploration of love and obsession.
