Rashmika Mandanna has opened up about the role Vijay Deverakonda has played in helping her become more confident, recalling how their relationship began around the time they worked together on Geetha Govindam.
The actor said she was once extremely underconfident and would avoid speaking to people or even making eye contact. According to Rashmika, Vijay’s confidence inspired her early on, while his continued encouragement has helped her believe more strongly in her abilities.
The couple is now set to share the screen again in the upcoming period drama Ranabaali, scheduled for release on October 16.
Rashmika Says She Was Once “Very Underconfident”
During an interview with Sudhir Srinivasan, Rashmika reflected on how much her confidence has evolved over the years.
She said that although her core personality has remained rooted in kindness and hard work, she was once extremely hesitant socially.
“I would not talk to anyone, make no eye contact with anyone, because I was very underconfident,” Rashmika recalled.
She credited her experiences in the film industry, along with the people she encountered along the way, for influencing her personal growth.
How Vijay Deverakonda Inspired Her
Rashmika recalled meeting Vijay while working on Geetha Govindam. At the time, she admired the confidence with which he carried himself and saw qualities in him that she wanted to develop in herself.
She explained that she would look at Vijay and think about how she wanted to communicate and carry herself with a similar level of confidence.
For Rashmika, his influence was not simply about professional success. She said the conversations they had during the making of the film continued to stay with her.
“You Are Capable of Doing So Much More”
Rashmika also remembered the encouragement Vijay gave her during a period when she struggled to recognise her own abilities.
According to the actor, Vijay would tell her:
“Listen, you are capable of doing so much more than what you believe in.”
Rashmika said that she still sometimes struggles to believe in herself to the extent that he believes in her. However, she feels that his encouragement has contributed to where she is today.
She added that she continues to ask him for affirmations.
“Even today I keep telling him I need to hear affirmations,” she said.
For Rashmika, receiving that kind of reassurance remains something she values rather than something she wants to leave behind.
Rashmika and Vijay’s Journey From Co-Stars to Married Couple
Rashmika and Vijay’s professional association dates back to Geetha Govindam, which became one of the notable collaborations in their careers.
Their relationship subsequently became a subject of considerable public interest before they married earlier in 2026.
According to the details shared in the source material, the couple held a destination wedding ceremony on February 26, 2026, at the ITC Mementos resort near Udaipur, Rajasthan.
The celebrations reportedly included Telugu and Kodava wedding rituals, followed by a reception in Hyderabad on March 4.
Their next on-screen collaboration has therefore attracted particular attention, as Ranabaali brings the married couple together professionally.
Rashmika and Vijay Set to Star in Ranabaali
Ranabaali is described as a period drama directed by Rahul Sankrityan.
The film is being produced by Mythri Movie Makers and T-Series Films and is scheduled to release on October 16.
It is expected to arrive in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam, giving the project a broad multilingual release.
With Rashmika and Vijay appearing together again, their personal journey adds another layer of interest to a film already generating attention ahead of its release.
For Rashmika, however, the story behind their collaboration is also personal. Her comments suggest that the confidence she admired in Vijay when they first worked together has continued to influence her, both professionally and personally.
