“The Girlfriend” Promises an Emotionally Charged Experience: Director Rahul Ravindran
National crush Rashmika Mandanna and talented actor Dheekshith Shetty are teaming up for an intense romantic drama titled The Girlfriend. Presented by veteran producer Allu Aravind, the film is being jointly produced by Geetha Arts and Dheeraj Mogilineni Entertainment, with Rahul Ravindran at the helm. The movie is gearing up for a grand worldwide release on November 7, hitting screens in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada.
In an exclusive conversation, director Rahul Ravindran opened up about the journey and emotional depth behind the film.
“The idea for The Girlfriend came from something I witnessed during my college days,” Rahul shared. “A song I heard back then stayed with me and eventually led me to write this story. When the Aha team approached me for a project, I sent them this script. Around the same time, I was supposed to do a film with Rashmika and Geetha Arts. When Allu Aravind garu read the story, he immediately felt it had to be made for the big screen, not OTT. That’s how this film began.”
When Rahul narrated the script to Rashmika, her response was instant and heartfelt.
“She called me within two days after reading it and said, ‘This story needs to be told. I relate to it deeply as a woman. This film is my hug to every girl out there,’” he recalled.
Rahul revealed that he often shares his scripts with close friends like Samantha, Adivi Sesh, Vennela Kishore, and Sujeeth for feedback. Interestingly, Samantha too read the script and encouraged him to proceed with a different actress, as she felt the story would connect beautifully that way.
The director also explained the team’s creative approach to the promotional material:
“We deliberately misled audiences a bit with the teaser and trailer. The real story has far more emotional intensity that unfolds in theatres. It’s a realistic take on love and human emotion not about preaching, but about reflection.”
Addressing Rashmika’s transformation after Animal, Rahul admitted he had concerns:
“After Animal became a huge hit, I wondered how audiences would react to her raw, grounded character here. But Rashmika told me, ‘Show me exactly as the story needs. Don’t glam me up unnecessarily.’ That conviction helped shape the film.”
On casting Dheekshith Shetty as the male lead, Rahul shared,
I wanted someone instantly likable, someone who feels real. When I saw Dheekshith’s interviews during Dasara promotions, I knew he was perfect. The film follows two post-graduate students and their journey through love and conflict.
The film also features Anu Emmanuel in a key role, while Rahul Ravindran himself plays a lecturer a part he initially wanted Sandeep Reddy Vanga to do.
Sandeep joked that audiences might burst out laughing if they saw him act, so I ended up doing the role myself, Rahul laughed.
Music, composed by Hesham Abdul Wahab, adds emotional weight to the film.
Hesham’s music beautifully captures the soul of the story. It’s emotional, yet grounded,” Rahul added.
As for what comes next, Rahul revealed that he has already lined up two directorial ventures.
After those, Rashmika and I will team up again. She loved the idea I’ve written for our next project,” he hinted.
Though Rahul began his journey as an actor, his heart always leaned toward storytelling.
Acting was never the end goal. Direction and writing give me real satisfaction. Still, I enjoy acting in smaller roles when the director inspires me like my friend Sujeeth did for OG. If Hanu Raghavapudi or others call me for something interesting, I’d love to be part of it,” he concluded.
With The Girlfriend, Rahul Ravindran promises not just a love story but an emotional rollercoaster that mirrors the complexities of modern relationships.
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