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What is the story about?
Director Rahul Ravindran's latest romantic drama, The Girlfriend, starring Rashmika Mandanna and Dheekshith Shetty, has emerged as a full-blooded, emotionally visceral take on contemporary love, power dynamics, and the struggle for selfhood. The movie "is gripping, consistent in its craft and relevant in its themes," according to a Cinema Express review.
In a dramatic change from her prior roles, Rashmika portrays Bhooma, a gullible college student whose life takes a turn for the worse once she begins a troubled relationship with another student.
The movie gains momentum despite its slow beginning, particularly in the pre-interval and final scenes. Co-stars Anu Emmanuel and Deekshith Shetty have also been lauded for their roles in this complex romance drama.
‘The Girlfriend’ Reviews:
A lengthy review on X (formerly Twitter) read: “The Girlfriend" is a fantastic movie, and the biggest reason to watch it is the actress, Rashmika Mandanna. Her performance is truly amazing … The movie has four or five very powerful scenes that are the highlights of the film. These moments are written and directed extremely well … It moves at a slow, relaxed speed, especially in the first half. But this slow pace helps you really understand the characters and what they are feeling.”
“A sincere romantic drama with emotional depth and standout moments. shines with her career-best performance, a heartfelt yet slow-paced story. Despite its uneven flow, the film’s honesty and climax make it worth a watch,” a second review read.
“#TheGirlfriend is a good cinematic experience. @iamRashmika character and performance in this movie may bag her several awards. The story was truly engaging throughout. Totally a must-watch movie for every girl out here,” another viewer wrote.
“#TheGirlfriend - Slow but impactful. The movie is a strong watch for those who enjoy slow-paced, serious dramas. #RashmikaMandanna doesn’t just act, she lives Bhooma,” one review read in part.
Others had similar opinions, complimenting the film's emotional impact and message. One wrote, “The Girlfriend sheds light on the suffocating nature of toxic relationships, anchored by Rashmika’s superb performance.”
Another added, “She was confident about the film even before its release, and now she has proved it with her exceptional acting. Truly, Rashmika is a gem of an actress.”
About The Girlfriend
The movie revolves around Rashmika Mandanna's portrayal of Bhooma, an MA student who falls in love with Vikram (Dheekshith Shetty). Her relationship gradually devolves into a wordless struggle for recognition, control, and identity in this complex romance drama.
"Arjun Reddy is a cult film and a much bigger one," director Rahul Ravindran said in response to comparisons with 'Arjun Reddy'. The filmmaker clarified that some of the resemblance might have resulted from the trailer's specific editing style.
"My film isn’t close to it. Any similarity only struck me after people on social media pointed it out. I actually developed the story long before ‘Arjun Reddy’ came about," Ravindran added.
In a dramatic change from her prior roles, Rashmika portrays Bhooma, a gullible college student whose life takes a turn for the worse once she begins a troubled relationship with another student.
The movie gains momentum despite its slow beginning, particularly in the pre-interval and final scenes. Co-stars Anu Emmanuel and Deekshith Shetty have also been lauded for their roles in this complex romance drama.
‘The Girlfriend’ Reviews:
A lengthy review on X (formerly Twitter) read: “The Girlfriend" is a fantastic movie, and the biggest reason to watch it is the actress, Rashmika Mandanna. Her performance is truly amazing … The movie has four or five very powerful scenes that are the highlights of the film. These moments are written and directed extremely well … It moves at a slow, relaxed speed, especially in the first half. But this slow pace helps you really understand the characters and what they are feeling.”
The Girlfriend REVIEW —
" The Girlfriend" is a fantastic movie, and the biggest reason to watch it is the actress, Rashmika Mandanna. Her performance is truly amazing. She plays the character of Bhooma so perfectly that it feels like she is the character, not just someone… pic.twitter.com/S3k11IF4ZZ
— Let's X OTT GLOBAL (@LetsXOtt) November 7, 2025
“A sincere romantic drama with emotional depth and standout moments. shines with her career-best performance, a heartfelt yet slow-paced story. Despite its uneven flow, the film’s honesty and climax make it worth a watch,” a second review read.
#TheGirlFriend Review #RashmikaMandanna
❤️????
A sincere romantic drama with emotional depth and standout moments. shines with her career-best performance, a heartfelt yet slow-paced story. Despite its uneven flow, the film’s honesty and climax make it worth a watch
⭐ Rating: 2.75/5 pic.twitter.com/7vtDplhUDG
— therealpawankalyan ❤️???? (@lionreview45833) November 7, 2025
“#TheGirlfriend is a good cinematic experience. @iamRashmika character and performance in this movie may bag her several awards. The story was truly engaging throughout. Totally a must-watch movie for every girl out here,” another viewer wrote.
#TheGirlfriend a good cinematic experience ????@iamRashmika character and performance in this movie may bags her several awards ❤️
The story was truly engaging throughout .
Totally a must watch movie for every girls out here ???? pic.twitter.com/tF1zE2A7iM
— Censor Media (@CensorMedia) November 6, 2025
“#TheGirlfriend - Slow but impactful. The movie is a strong watch for those who enjoy slow-paced, serious dramas. #RashmikaMandanna doesn’t just act, she lives Bhooma,” one review read in part.
#TheGirlfriend - Slow But Impactful ????
Movie is a strong watch for those who enjoy slow-paced, serious dramas. #RashmikaMandanna doesn’t just act she lives Bhooma. #RohiniMolleti is brilliant in her brief role, and the pre-interval mirror scene will stun you. Story drags at… pic.twitter.com/EGAuK6T5Aj
— The South Cinemaa (@southcinemaaaa) November 7, 2025
Others had similar opinions, complimenting the film's emotional impact and message. One wrote, “The Girlfriend sheds light on the suffocating nature of toxic relationships, anchored by Rashmika’s superb performance.”
The Girlfriend effectively sheds light on the suffocating nature of toxic relationships, anchored by Rashmika Mandanna’s superb performance.#RashmikaMandanna #DheekshithShetty #RahulRavindran #TheGirlFriend #TheGirlFriendMovieReview #greatandhrahttps://t.co/Cwxpsm1bMz pic.twitter.com/QqlcJmuR6N
— greatandhra (@greatandhranews) November 7, 2025
Another added, “She was confident about the film even before its release, and now she has proved it with her exceptional acting. Truly, Rashmika is a gem of an actress.”
#RashmikaMandanna’s performance in The Girlfriend is outstanding! She was confident about the film even before its release, and now she has proved it with her exceptional acting. Truly, Rashmika is a gem of an actress.#TheGirlFriend pic.twitter.com/e8HXKUVpXd
— Filmyscoops (@Filmyscoopss) November 7, 2025
About The Girlfriend
The movie revolves around Rashmika Mandanna's portrayal of Bhooma, an MA student who falls in love with Vikram (Dheekshith Shetty). Her relationship gradually devolves into a wordless struggle for recognition, control, and identity in this complex romance drama.
"Arjun Reddy is a cult film and a much bigger one," director Rahul Ravindran said in response to comparisons with 'Arjun Reddy'. The filmmaker clarified that some of the resemblance might have resulted from the trailer's specific editing style.
"My film isn’t close to it. Any similarity only struck me after people on social media pointed it out. I actually developed the story long before ‘Arjun Reddy’ came about," Ravindran added.
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