‘Not A PR Stunt’: The Girlfriend Director Defends Fan Replicating Rashmika Mandanna’s Dupatta Scene

The Girlfriend, starring Rashmika Mandanna and Dheekshith Shetty, was released in theatres last week. The film, written and directed by Rahul Ravindran, has been receiving good reviews from the audience and critics alike. Meanwhile, a video of a young girl taking off her dupatta after the screening of The Girlfriend is going viral. The film portrays Rashmika’s character Bhooma shedding her dupatta as a powerful symbol of her freedom. As the video of the young fan replicating the same went viral on social media, a netizen questioned whether the gesture was genuine or staged. Rahul Ravindran hit back at the social media user, clarifying that it wasn’t a publicity stunt. He then wrote that while the video of a female fan has caused a meltdown among

some netizens, he asked why nobody gets triggered when men rip off their shirts before an action scene.

The Girlfriend Director Rahul Ravindran Responds to PR Stunt Accusations

A viral video showed a young female fan taking off her dupatta after the screening of Rashmika Mandanna starrer The Girlfriend. The fan says that after watching the film, she wants to remove her dupatta, and face life. A social media user reacted to the video, and questioned Rahul Ravindran whether it was a publicity stunt. “@GeethaArts was this girl invited for the success meet or was paid only to remove the dupatta and hug @23_rahulr after the screening ?” asked the X user. Rahul Ravindran wrote a lengthy note in response. “I didn’t want to react to any of this so as to not draw any more negativity towards the girl. But the accusations keep getting more and more baseless. Firstly, 20 minutes before reaching this theatre… we were trying to decide between two different theatres and where we should go. We weren’t even sure that we going to go to this theatre. I now wish we hadn’t. We had no idea who is sitting in which theatre. Let alone planting someone. So no… this is definitely not a PR stunt. Whatever happened was purely spontaneous,” he wrote.

I didn’t want to react to any of this so as to not draw any more negativity towards the girl. But the accusations keep getting more and more baseless. Firstly, 20 minutes before reaching this theatre… we were trying to decide between two different theatres and where we should… https://t.co/eohxBhzGUg

— Rahul Ravindran (@23_rahulr) November 14, 2025

He further added, “Secondly, I was a bit worried about putting that video out because of this exact reason. That one section will go after this girl. But I was rushing to another theatre from there and the team said she was ok with it. I feel terrible for this girl. Lots of strength to her Keep expressing yourself bravely young one. Stand up against hate. Thirdly, the film isn’t asking anyone to take off or keep on their Chunnis. It’s purely a personal choice. The chunni is the film is a metaphor and not used literally.”

Rahul Ravindran Points Out Gender Bias

Rahul Ravindran then questioned why people don’t have similar reactions when men take off their shirts. “Lastly, this situation is an opportunity for a lot of us to introspect and check our biases. One girl taking off her dupatta as a symbolic gesture has this small section of people going into a meltdown. And it takes on a very large significance of ‘preserving our culture’ for this small section. I wonder why nobody gets triggered when week in and week out, men rip open their shirts before an action scene. Mind you, am not saying one should get triggered. That would be a spectacularly silly reaction. I am only questioning micro biases. Nobody bats an eyelid when men take off their shirts and wave them around in celebration of their favorite team’s sporting victory, or on new year’s day or just as an expression of joy in drunken state while dancing to their favorite songs. And nobody should bat an eyelid. It’s beautiful to see happy people expressing themselves. It always puts a smile on my face,” he wrote.

However, he questioned why this small section of people only place the burden of ‘preserving culture’ only on the shoulders of women. “Let me get even more basic. How come many in this small section don’t walk around dhotis everyday and everywhere? Why have they switched to trousers? Why do many of them tweet here in English? After all, they care so much about preserving our culture don’t they? These questions sound stupid and irritatingly immature and tone deaf don’t they. Then why are they perfectly fine holding women to a different standard? I don’t have the answers. And I hope the few people who ask me if a film like #TheGirlfriend is relevant or needed today, are observing the behaviour of this section when it comes to their responses to this film. They’ll have their answer,” he concluded.