“The Girlfriend” is a film everyone can relate to — it’s the best work of my career so far: Dheekshith Shetty
National Crush Rashmika Mandanna and talented actor Dheekshith Shetty come together for the emotional romantic drama “The Girlfriend.” The film is produced under the banners of Geetha Arts and Dheeraj Mogilineni Entertainment, with presentation by Allu Aravind. Directed by Rahul Ravindran, this intense love story is produced by Dheeraj Mogilineni and Vidya Koppineedi.
The film, which offers a refreshing take on modern relationships, is set for a grand worldwide theatrical release — in Telugu and Hindi on November 7, and in Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada on November 14.
In a candid conversation, Dheekshith Shetty opened up about his journey with the film, his experience working alongside Rashmika, and what makes “The Girlfriend” so special.
On bagging the film after Dasara
“After Dasara, this was the next major opportunity that came my way,” Dheekshith shared. “Rahul Ravindran sir approached me for The Girlfriend and told me that Rashmika would be playing the female lead. He had seen my interviews during Dasara promotions and felt I would perfectly fit the boyfriend’s role. When I read the script, I understood why. I’ve worked in Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam films, but stories like The Girlfriend are very rare — I instantly knew I had to do it.”
On playing Vikram
“Rahul sir had absolute clarity about Vikram — his personality, behavior, and how he should talk or move. That clarity made it easy for me to get into character,” he explained. “Vikram has multiple layers. Some people might assume he’s a toxic boyfriend based on the trailer, but Rahul made sure he doesn’t come across as negative. Coming from a stage and film school background, I prepared methodically for the role. For me, a story has to connect with me personally — that’s the most important thing.”
A fresh perspective on love stories
“Usually, love stories follow a set pattern, but The Girlfriend views relationships from a completely new angle,” Dheekshith said. “There are films that entertain, and then there are films that stay with you — this one belongs to the latter. It reflects emotions and moments from our real lives. As Rashmika mentioned, if she had watched a film like this years ago, her perspective on life might have been different. I feel audiences, especially between 18 and 25, will deeply relate to and learn from this story.”
On Rashmika Mandanna’s performance
“After watching Rashmika perform, I honestly felt no one else could have done justice to Bhuma’s role. You won’t see Rashmika on screen — you’ll only see Bhuma,” Dheekshith said with admiration. “Even when Animal released and became a massive hit during our shoot, she never behaved like a star. She was grounded, kind, and friendly with everyone on set.”
On the film’s universal appeal
“This film isn’t just for the youth; even families will connect with it,” Dheekshith emphasized. “It explores the many shades of relationships — including how toxicity can appear in subtle, unexpected forms. When we say ‘toxic boyfriend,’ we often think of someone with anger or addiction issues, but it can be more nuanced. I’ve never seen a character like Vikram in any love story before. Rahul Ravindran is not only a brilliant writer-director but also a wonderful human being. He never pressures anyone — he brings out the best in his team with kindness.”
On Allu Aravind’s appreciation
“During the shoot, Allu Aravind garu watched the rushes and called me in. I was nervous, thinking he might have feedback on my performance. But instead, he appreciated my work and even gave me an advance for my next film! Receiving encouragement from someone of his stature meant the world to me — it gave me huge confidence at this stage in my career.”
On his future projects
“As an actor, I want to keep exploring different roles. Telugu cinema is giving me amazing opportunities, and I truly believe Telugu audiences appreciate talent beyond language barriers. Our producers Vidya and Dheeraj supported us throughout, and Hesham’s music is another big highlight. My favorite song is ‘Em Jarugutundi’. I can confidently say The Girlfriend is the best film I’ve done so far,” he said.
He also revealed details about his upcoming releases — “My Kannada film Bank of Bhagyalakshmi will release in Telugu on November 21. I’m also working on a Telugu film titled Shabana, and another project titled KJQ is ready for release. Apart from these, I’m doing one more untitled film. In Kannada, I’m working with Shivanna (Shiva Rajkumar), and in Malayalam, my film Angel No.1 is gearing up for release. I also have an ongoing Tamil project in production.”
Final Thoughts
With his sincerity, versatility, and natural charm, Dheekshith Shetty is fast emerging as one of the most promising young actors in South Indian cinema. And with The Girlfriend, he seems ready to touch both hearts and minds — proving that love, when told with honesty, always finds its audience
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