“The Girlfriend” starring national crush Rashmika Mandanna and talented actor Dheekshith Shetty is gearing up for a grand theatrical release. Presented by Allu Aravind under Geetha Arts and Dheeraj Mogilineni Entertainment, the film is directed by Rahul Ravindran and produced by Dheeraj Mogilineni and Vidya Koppineedi.
This intense love story will hit theatres worldwide in Hindi and Telugu on November 7, followed by Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada releases on November 14. The makers believe that “The Girlfriend” is a film that audiences everywhere will connect with emotionally.
Producer Dheeraj Mogilineni shared that they developed this story with full belief in its theatrical potential. He said the story felt so special that they were ready to take a risk for it. The film’s unique perspective—told through the heroine’s point of view—called for strong performers rather than big stars. He praised Dheekshith Shetty as a natural fit for the role and appreciated Rashmika’s dedication to her character.
Dheeraj revealed that Rashmika didn’t take any remuneration initially, and the team, grateful for her commitment, decided to pay her double later. The film also features Anu Emmanuel in a significant role. Confident about the outcome, the team feels that what they envisioned is exactly what’s been captured on screen.
He also noted that audiences today return to theatres for meaningful stories, not just big names. Backed by the experience and support of Geetha Arts and Allu Aravind, the team plans to announce another project soon after this release.
Producer Vidya Koppineedi said that from the first narration itself, they both deeply connected to the story’s emotion and message. Though it’s not a commercial potboiler, it carries a strong emotional core that resonates with everyone. She shared that even the censor board appreciated the film and felt it had the quality of a National Award-winning movie.
Vidya explained that while the story has a woman’s perspective, it’s not women-centric — it’s a heartfelt love story that reflects real-life experiences. Most of the film was shot on a college campus, and though there were a few scheduling delays due to Rashmika’s busy calendar and a brief workers’ strike, the production went smoothly overall.
The music, composed by Hesham Abdul Wahab, features four full songs and two short tracks, adding emotional depth to the story. Vidya also clarified that the team never approached Samantha for the role — Rashmika was always the first and only choice for this story.
“The Girlfriend” is all set to be a refreshing new-age love story that blends emotion, realism, and heartwarming moments — a film everyone can relate to and feel connected with.