“The Girlfriend” will surprise audiences with its high-voltage drama: Director Rahul Ravindran

National crush Rashmika Mandanna and talented actor Dheekshith Shetty star together in the film The Girlfriend. Presented by veteran producer Allu Aravind, the movie is being jointly produced by Geetha Arts and Dheeraj Mogilineni Entertainment. Director Rahul Ravindran is helming this intense and emotional love story, with Dheeraj Mogilineni and Vidya Koppineedi as producers. Shaping up as a refreshing romantic drama, the film is set for a grand worldwide theatrical release on November 7, in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada.

Speaking in an print and web interview today, director Rahul Ravindran revealed the highlights of The Girlfriend. He said, “I wrote the story of The Girlfriend based on an incident I witnessed during my college days. A song I heard around that time also inspired me to write this story. During my free time, I had developed a few scripts. The team at Aha approached me for a project, and I sent them this story. Earlier, I was supposed to do a film with Rashmika and Geetha Arts. When Allu Aravind Garu read The Girlfriend’s story, he said it had strong cinematic potential and insisted we make it as a theatrical film rather than for OTT. So, Rashmika and I set aside our earlier project and began this one.

– When I sent the script to Rashmika, she said she’d read it and get back to me. Within two days, she called after finishing it and said, “Let’s do this film immediately. This is a story that deserves to be told to the audience. As a woman, I connected deeply with it. This movie is my big hug to all the girls out there.” Whenever I write a story, I share it with my friends like Samantha, Vennela Kishore, Adivi Sesh, and director Sujeeth for their feedback. I also sent The Girlfriend to them. There were even rumors that Samantha was being considered as the female lead. After reading the script, Samantha suggested that it would work better with another heroine.

– We intentionally misdirected the audience with the teaser and trailer. The main content is something you’ll enjoy only in theatres. The same intense, high-voltage drama you saw in the trailer continues into the second half. This drama will surprise the audience. I’ve depicted the story in the way I understood what happened in a couple’s life. There are no moral messages or lessons. I believe audiences will reflect on it in their own way. What I think is right today may not feel the same five years from now, so I never try to preach through my films. It’s a realistic take on an emotionally intense love story.

– When Rashmika’s Animal released and grossed hundreds of crores, I was a bit nervous. I wondered if audiences would accept her realistic portrayal here, after seeing her in a larger-than-life role there. But Rashmika understood my concern and said, “Please present me on screen exactly as this story demands. My character should look authentic.” We often label films as “women-centric,” but it will take time before that tag truly disappears. In this story, both the hero and heroine have equal importance. However, the narrative is told from the heroine’s point of view.

– For the role of Vikram in The Girlfriend, I searched for an actor who would instantly attract attention – someone who would look like a guy that many girls in college would like. While watching interviews during the Dasara promotions, I noticed Dheekshith Shetty and felt he fit perfectly. The hero and heroine in the film are post-graduate students. There’s also a lecturer’s role, and I initially thought director Sandeep Reddy Vanga would be great for it. When we approached him, he declined, saying audiences would laugh upon seeing him on screen. Eventually, I had to play that role myself. Anu Emmanuel also fit her part perfectly.

– Hesham Abdul Wahab has given us beautiful music that elevates the film’s emotional depth. Working with him was a great experience. My stories are often inspired by things I’ve seen, read, or experienced in life. As a director, I never aimed to create a “signature style.” But perhaps after watching my films, people might recognize certain values and sensitivities as part of my direction.

– I’ve already finalized my next two directorial projects, and I’ll announce their details soon. After those, Rashmika and I plan to collaborate again. She really liked the story idea, and I’ll start developing the script soon. Our combination will return with that project.

– When I was waiting for an opportunity as an assistant director, I got a chance to act as a hero. I took it, thinking it would help me build connections. But my true interest was always in writing and direction. Even now, I get acting offers, but being a hero requires a full year of commitment to a single project. After directing my first film, I decided not to pursue hero roles. I still enjoy acting, but I consider direction is my real career. I’m open to playing smaller roles that need around 20 days of shooting – especially if I can learn something from the director. My friend Sujeeth offered me a role in OG, and I did it. If director Hanu Raghavapudi invites me for his film, I’ll definitely do it. He’s currently working with Prabhas Garu, and I’d love to be part of such big projects. If Hanu ever asks me to play the lead in one of his movies, I’ll happily do it.