Meet the actress who reigns over the Rs 1000-Crore club — And has worked with Allu Arjun, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal

Rashmika Mandanna's jorney of success

The story of Rashmika Mandanna's ascent to fame in Indian cinema is reminiscent of a contemporary fairy tale, but it is based on perseverance, grit, and an unwavering faith in oneself.

She is now praised as an actress who easily holds a position in the Rs 1000-crore club, costarring with industry titans like Vicky Kaushal, Ranbir Kapoor, and Allu Arjun. But compared to the glitz that currently surrounds her, the journey that led her here is far more poignant and inspirational.

Born on 5 April 1996, Rashmika didn’t grow up with any industry connections. What she did have, however, was an innate charm and an instinctive ability to express emotion — qualities that would one day translate into millions of admirers.

With 47.8 million Instagram followers today, she has become one of the country’s most loved and closely followed stars.

She is seen by many young fans as a symbol of self-assurance, relatability, and an effortlessness that seems real rather than fake.

In 2016, she made her breakthrough with Rishab Shetty's Kirik Party. Not only did the movie do well at the box office, but it became one of the highest-grossing Kannada films ever.

Rashmika's youthful looks and natural charisma on screen helped her win the SIIMA Award for Best Debut Actress (Kannada). It marked the beginning of an amazing eight-year career marked by constant change and the courage to try out new roles.

She became well-known throughout India thanks to films like Pushpa, but her 2025 release, The Girlfriend, revealed a braver Rashmika.

The film opened with an impressive Rs 11 crore in India and crossed the half-million mark in North America — rare for a female-led drama.

Audiences praised her for delivering a performance filled with emotional truth and raw vulnerability. She didn’t just lead the film; she carried it, proving once again that powerful storytelling thrives when anchored by powerful women.

Yet, behind the success lies a childhood marked by instability. In an old Hindustan Times interview, Rashmika recalled how her family struggled with basic rent.

“I have been on the other side. There was a time when we would move homes every two months… I am taking the liberty of recalling how they used to find it hard to search for a place for us to live in and pay those rents,” she said.