Rashmika Mandanna (born 5 April 1996) is an Indian actress who works in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi films. She made her debut in the Kannada hit Kirik Party (2016) and became a star in Telugu cinema with Geetha Govindam (2018). She reached audiences across India through Pushpa: The Rise, Animal and Pushpa 2: The Rule. Fans often call her the “National Crush”, and she is one of India’s highest-paid actresses. In February 2026 she married the actor Vijay Deverakonda.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Rashmika Mandanna |
| Born | 5 April 1996, Virajpet, Kodagu, Karnataka, India |
| Age | 30 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Education | Psychology, journalism and English literature, Bengaluru |
| Spouse | Vijay Deverakonda (m. 2026) |
| Known for | Kirik Party, Geetha Govindam, Pushpa, Animal, Chhaava |
Early Life
Mandanna was born in Virajpet, in the Kodagu (Coorg) district of Karnataka, into a Kodava family. Her father runs a coffee estate. She went to school in Kodagu and later studied psychology, journalism and English literature in Bengaluru. In 2014 she won the Clean & Clear Fresh Face competition, which led to her first film offer.
Career
Mandanna made her debut in Rishab Shetty’s Kannada campus comedy Kirik Party (2016), which was a big hit and won her the SIIMA Award for Best Debut Actress. She moved into Telugu films with Chalo (2018). The romantic comedy Geetha Govindam (2018), opposite Vijay Deverakonda, made her a star. She followed it with Dear Comrade (2019), Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020) and Bheeshma (2020).
Her role as Srivalli opposite Allu Arjun in Sukumar’s Pushpa: The Rise (2021) made her famous across India, and the song “Saami Saami” became a viral hit. She made her Hindi debut in Goodbye (2022) with Amitabh Bachchan. She co-starred with Ranbir Kapoor in Animal (2023) and returned as Srivalli in Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024). Both were among the highest-grossing Indian films ever.
In 2025 she played Yesubai, the wife of the Maratha king Sambhaji, in the historical drama Chhaava, a major hit. She also starred opposite Salman Khan in Sikandar and appeared in Kuberaa, the horror comedy Thama and The Girlfriend.
Personal Life
Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda, her co-star in Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade, kept their relationship private for years. They became engaged in October 2025 and married on 26 February 2026 in Udaipur. The wedding, which fans nicknamed “Virosh”, included both a Telugu ceremony and a Kodava ceremony. In 2023 a deepfake video misusing her likeness spread online. She spoke out about it, and police later arrested the person who made it. She has since helped raise awareness of cybercrime.
Awards and Honours
Selected Filmography
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Rashmika Mandanna born?
Rashmika Mandanna was born on 5 April 1996 in Virajpet, Kodagu, Karnataka, India and is 30 years old.
What is Rashmika Mandanna known for?
Known for: Kirik Party, Geetha Govindam, Pushpa, Animal, Chhaava.
Featured image: Rashmika Mandanna at the audio launch of Geetha Govindam, 2018. Photo by Madhuram Videos, licensed under CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Still from a video.
