“Dheekshith Shetty on ‘The Girlfriend’: Most Personal Film of My Career, A Fresh Take on Love”
Actor Dheekshith Shetty, starring opposite Rashmika Mandanna in the emotionally charged romance The Girlfriend, describes the film as the most significant of his career. Directed by Rahul Ravindran and produced by Dheeraj Mogilineni and Vidya Koppineedi under Geetha Arts with presentation by Allu Aravind, the movie releases worldwide on November 7 in Hindi and Telugu, followed by Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada on November 14.
Dheekshith shares that director Rahul Ravindran approached him after recognizing his fit for the complex role of Vikram, inspired by his interviews during Dasara promotions. The film’s realistic story, layered characters, and fresh perspective on romance—different from typical love stories—draw him deeply. He emphasizes Vikram is not a toxic boyfriend stereotype, but a nuanced character requiring careful embodiment, which he prepared for deeply with his theater and film school background.
He praises Rashmika’s performance as heartfelt and authentic, saying audiences will see her as Bhooma, not the star herself. The film’s relatable portrayal of love, including challenging emotional aspects and family dynamics, is meant to resonate with youth and families alike.
Dheekshith fondly recounts receiving encouragement and an advance from Allu Aravind early in the shoot, which boosted his confidence. He also speaks of his upcoming diverse projects across Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Tamil industries.
With music by Hesham Abdul Wahab highlighting the film’s emotional core, Dheekshith is confident The Girlfriend is his best work to date—a modern, raw, and realistic love story that will leave a lasting impact on audiences.
