Despite achieving superstar status in Telugu cinema with blockbusters like Geetha Govindam and the Pushpa franchise, Rashmika Mandanna continues to search for her defining moment in Bollywood. The actress, who commands massive fan following down South, has struggled to replicate that success in Hindi films.
From Telugu Stardom to Hindi Dreams
Owing to the commercial success of Parasuram’s Geetha Govindam, Rashmika Mandanna emerged as one of the most sought-after actresses in Telugu cinema. Her collaboration with Allu Arjun in Sukumar’s Pushpa: The Rise and Pushpa: The Rule further cemented her position as a leading lady in Tollywood. Capitalizing on this momentum, the smile queen ventured into Bollywood with high hopes.
Mixed Results Despite Big-Budget Films
Her Hindi journey began with Vicky Kaushal’s period drama Chhaava, which emerged as a blockbuster collecting over Rs 645 crore worldwide. However, Rashmika made little impact with her performance as Maharani Yesubai, largely due to limited screen time in a Vicky Kaushal-centric narrative.
Still seeking that breakthrough role, she starred opposite Salman Khan in Sikander, which underperformed at the box office despite a strong opening. The A.R. Murugadoss directorial failed to meet expectations, with the film experiencing sharp drops after its initial weekend.
The horror comedy Thamma, featuring Ayushmann Khurrana, fared better commercially, collecting Rs 157 crore and becoming her third-highest Bollywood grosser. Yet the film’s success was largely attributed to Ayushmann’s star power and the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe brand rather than Rashmika’s performance.
Cocktail 2 Opens to Tepid Response
Pinning hopes on Cocktail 2, a romantic comedy starring Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon alongside her, Rashmika Mandanna faced another setback. The film, which released on June 19, opened to a modest Rs 5.44 crore with just 15% occupancy and mixed reviews from critics and audiences.
Directed by Homi Adajania, the film follows Diya (Rashmika) and Kunal (Shahid Kapoor), a couple whose decade-long relationship faces turbulence when an old friend re-enters their lives. Despite the star cast, the film appears headed for yet another underwhelming run.
Banking on Telugu Films
With her Bollywood ventures failing to establish her as a solo draw, Rashmika Mandanna is now focusing on her Telugu projects. She will next be seen in Mysaa, a female-centric action drama where she plays a Gond tribal woman, and Ranabaali, an 18th-century period film opposite Vijay Deverakonda.
Her recent Telugu release The Girlfriend garnered strong viewership on Netflix, proving her star power remains intact in the South. The question remains whether Rashmika can translate this Telugu dominance into Bollywood success, or if she’ll remain another South Indian actress who couldn’t crack the Hindi film industry.