National Crush Rashmika Mandanna’s romantic drama The Girl Friend is gearing up for a grand release on November 7 in multiple languages. Dheekshith Shetty plays the male lead. Presented by veteran producer Allu Aravind, the movie is jointly produced by Geetha Arts and Dheeraj Mogilineni Entertainment.
Rahul Ravindran is helming this intense and emotional love story, with Dheeraj Mogilineni and Vidya Koppineedi as producers. Ahead of the release, Rahul Ravindran interacted with the media, and here’s the transcript.
How did you develop this story?
I penned the story based on an incident I experienced during my college days. A song I heard around that time also inspired me to write this story. I had developed a few scripts during my free time. The team at Aha approached me for a film, and I sent them this story. I was supposed to do a film with Rashmika and Geetha Arts. When Allu Aravind Garu read The Girl Friend’s story, he insisted we make it as a theatrical film rather than for OTT. So, Rashmika and I set aside our earlier project and began this one.
What’s the reaction of Rashmika when she heard the script?
I sent the script to Rashmika, and she called me after two days. She instantly gave her nod after she completed reading it. Rashmika said this is a story that needs to be told, and she connected deeply with it. Whenever I write a story, I share it with my friends like Samantha, Vennela Kishore, Adivi Sesh, and director Sujeeth for their feedback. I also sent The Girl Friend to them. There were even rumors that Samantha was being considered. After reading the script, Samantha suggested that it would work better with another heroine.
What is the film about?
We intentionally misdirected the audience with the teaser and trailer. The main content is something you’ll witness only in theatres. The same intense, high-voltage drama you saw in the trailer continues into the second half. The drama part will be a surprise. There are no moral messages or lessons. I believe audiences will reflect on it in their own way. I never try to preach through my films.
Is The Girl Friend a woman-centric film?
I got a bit nervous when Rashmika’s Animal was released and grossed hundreds of crores. I wondered if audiences would accept her realistic portrayal here. But Rashmika told me to present her exactly the way I designed her character. We often label films as “women-centric,” but it will take time before that tag truly disappears. In this story, both the hero and heroine have equal importance. However, the narrative is told from the heroine’s point of view.
Why did you choose Deekshith Shetty?
I wanted an actor who would instantly attract attention – someone who should be liked by girls. While watching Dasara interviews, I noticed Dheekshith Shetty and felt he would fit the bill perfectly. The hero and heroine in the film are post-graduate students.
Could you tell us about your upcoming projects?
I have already finalized my next two directorial projects, and I will announce their details soon. Rashmika and I plan to collaborate once again after wrapping up those two projects. She really liked the story idea, and I will start developing the script soon.