Rashmika Mandanna Is Still a Fangirl for Vijay Deverakonda

Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda are used to being the centre of attention, but it was a small personal confession that stole the moment at the pre-release event of their upcoming Telugu film Ranabaali. Ahead of the film’s worldwide release on Friday, October 16, 2026, Rashmika said marriage has not dimmed the admiration she has always had for Vijay as an actor.

‘I feel like a fangirl right now’

Speaking at the event, Rashmika told the audience, as quoted by The Times of India: “Honestly, it doesn’t feel like I’m married at all. I feel like a fangirl right now.” She explained that she remains a huge fan of Vijay’s work and is excited to see what he has done with Ranabaali.

That kind of comment matters to fans because it flips the usual promotional script: instead of a co-star’s polite praise, it sounds like the reaction of someone who still watches him from the audience’s point of view. The distinction is part of the charm that star couples bring to a film campaign.

What Ranabaali is about

The film is a period drama that gives Vijay a role built on rebellion and resistance. He plays a warrior who confronts a British commissioner while trying to protect his people. Rashmika stars as Jayamma, his wife and partner in rebellion, and the role carries a personal connection for her: she has said Jayamma’s name was inspired by director Rahul Sankrityan’s mother, which made the character even more meaningful.

Hollywood actor Arnold Vosloo, best known for his role in The Mummy, plays the main antagonist. The combination sets up a classic battle-of-wills story with a real-life couple at the centre.

• Release: October 16, 2026, worldwide.
• Vijay: a rebellious warrior facing a British commissioner.
• Rashmika: Jayamma, his wife and partner.
• Antagonist: Arnold Vosloo, known for The Mummy.

Why the ‘rugged avatar’ has her attention

Rashmika said she is particularly looking forward to watching Vijay in the film’s intense, rugged avatar. She recalled visiting the Ranabaali sets for a few days while the team had been at work for months, and said the crew’s seriousness and commitment sometimes made her nervous. Seeing Vijay in his moustached look with a commanding screen presence made the project feel substantial to her.

She called Ranabaali “a very important film for me and Vijay,” and told the team and the audience, “All the best. All the best to us.”

The fan-first take

For fans of Telugu cinema, this pre-release moment is less about behind-the-scenes information and more about seeing the couple’s dynamic in public. Rashmika’s comment that she still feels like a fan adds a layer of warmth to a film that is otherwise positioned as an intense rebellion drama. It also gives the audience permission to show up as fans themselves, with the same excitement she describes.

If the chemistry works on screen, it will reinforce what Rashmika said from the stage: admiration, not just familiarity, is what keeps a pairing interesting.

What to watch for

When Ranabaali opens on October 16, keep an eye on the scenes between Rashmika and Vijay. The film asks them to be partners in rebellion as well as partners in life, so their existing comfort could shape how Jayamma and Vijay’s warrior feel on screen. With Arnold Vosloo as a British antagonist, the stakes are designed to feel larger-than-life.

Source: The Times of India