Actress Rashmika Mandanna took to Instagram to share a warm and emotional birthday message for filmmaker Rahul Ravindran, the director of her upcoming film The Girlfriend. In her post, Rashmika described Rahul not just as a director but also as a dear friend, mentor, and creative collaborator she deeply trusts.
“Rahulaaaa… It’s your birthday today but you’re still sitting in front of me at rehearsals as I type this note,” she wrote. “You are too precious, my friend. I still can’t believe you’ve made a film like The Girlfriend — the emotional depth you carry flows into every frame.”
Reflecting on their journey, Rashmika shared how meeting Rahul for this project turned into a lifelong creative bond. “In you, I found a director, a friend, a mentor, and a partner in crime for life — someone I trust wholly and immensely,” she added.
Rashmika concluded the note with a heartfelt wish: “Happiest birthday @rahulr_23 sir (my director)… Rahulaaaa (my fraaaaand)… Biggest love and hugs to you always. I can’t wait for the world to see The Girlfriend — it’s just too special!”
Excitement Builds for ‘The Girlfriend’
Alongside Rashmika’s post, the makers of The Girlfriend announced that the film’s first single will be released in July, further heightening anticipation among fans.
Earlier, Rashmika had also stepped in to support Rahul when fans expressed frustration over the lack of updates about the film. The hashtag #ReleaseTheGirlfriend had trended on X (formerly Twitter), prompting her to reassure fans.
In a post, she wrote:
“Hi my lovelies. I know we’ve been making you wait and your trend really is something else… But trust me, @23_rahulr is working on it to give you the best output. This film is one of the most special projects I’ve done — it speaks about things we usually don’t talk about. It’s a character-driven film, and that’s the beauty of it.”
She promised that the team would accelerate production to meet fan expectations: “Because of all the love you’ve shown us today, we’ll speed up the process and deliver it to you soonest!”
About the Film
The Girlfriend, presented by renowned producer Allu Aravind, features Rashmika Mandanna in the lead, alongside Dheekshith Shetty. The film is written and directed by Rahul Ravindran, with music by Hesham Abdul Wahab and cinematography by Krishnan Vasant. With its strong emotional core and character-centric narrative, The Girlfriend promises to be one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
