Vijay Deverakonda: Possessive About Rashmika, Not Jealous

Vijay Deverakonda is comfortable being called “possessive” about Rashmika Mandanna. During a pre-release conversation with YouTuber Shubhankar Mishra for their upcoming film Ranabaali, the couple was asked about possessiveness in marriage. Rashmika laughed and answered first: “It’s a problem if he’s not.” Vijay agreed without hesitation.

Care, not suspicion

His definition of possessiveness has little to do with jealousy or watching her moves. Instead, he framed it as an instinct to protect everything that matters to her:

• Her career
• Her health
• Her happiness
• Her safety
• Her time

“I am possessive about her career, her health, her happiness, her safety, the time, everything. It’s like everything about this person is important to me, and if any of that is not happening, I feel like I need to help her a little,” he said.

Vijay also separated caring from panic. He said getting anxious over every rough patch can be “a little silly” because life rarely moves in a straight line. Obstacles and resistance are part of the journey, he added, and they have to be worked through rather than feared.

Fans hear a different kind of possessiveness

The comments section warmed to his answer. One fan wrote, “Now I really get what possessiveness actually means.” Others called it a gentleman’s stance and said Rashmika had “picked the right person.” For many, the emphasis on her career made the moment land differently from the usual jealous-partner framing—especially in a film culture that has often romanticised control.

Rashmika on small efforts

In a separate conversation with podcaster Prakhar Gupta, Rashmika spoke about the small rituals that keep a marriage strong. Couples, she said, often stop asking “How was your day?” or saying “Good morning” once they get comfortable and assume the other already knows. She added that she tells Vijay “I love you” 10 to 15 times a day and pushes him to say his feelings out loud. Vijay admitted he once felt that constant love needed no announcement; Rashmika believes saying it still matters.

Why it matters before Ranabaali

The interviews arrive as the couple prepares for Ranabaali, releasing October 16. It will be their first film together after marriage, following Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade. Their real-life equation is now part of the film’s pre-release conversation, and fans are responding to that warmth—turning a promotional interview into a relationship moment.

Source: The Times of India