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Rahul Ravindran Rejects ‘Arjun Reddy’ Parallels to Rashmika Mandanna’s ‘The Girlfriend

He says a deliberately non-linear trailer created the perceived similarity as the Telugu drama opens on November 7.

Overview

  • The film stars Rashmika Mandanna as Bhooma with Deekshith Shetty as Vikram, with a theatrical release set for November 7, 2025.
  • Social-media chatter compared the trailer to Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Arjun Reddy after its recent launch.
  • Director Rahul Ravindran insists the movies are not alike, attributing the vibe to a non-linear trailer cut and noting he conceived his story before Arjun Reddy.
  • He frames the project as a female-led, performance-driven drama and calls Rashmika “a director’s blessing” for her transparent, expressive acting.
  • Some reports suggest Rashmika waived an upfront fee for the role, a claim that has not been independently verified.