The Girlfriend: Why Rashmika Mandanna’s Romantic Drama is the Uncomfortable

▶ The Story That Mirrors Reality → ▶ Rashmika Mandanna: The Performance That Redefined Success → ▶ Watching The Girlfriend on OTT →

The 2025 Indian Telugu-language film, The Girlfriend, has become a significant talking point in cinema, not just for its commercial success but for its profound emotional resonance with audiences. Directed and written by Rahul Ravindran, this romantic drama delves into the complexities of a toxic relationship, moving from a seemingly happy college romance to a heavy emotional burden,.

The Story That Mirrors Reality

The Girlfriend centers on Bhooma Devi (played by Rashmika Mandanna), a post-graduate literature student, and her relationship with Vikram, also known as Vicky (Dheekshith Shetty),. The film, which runs for 138 minutes, was theatrically released on 7 November 2025,.

The narrative is designed to be a piercing study of control, patriarchy, and male biases. The story deliberately showcases how affection can be disguised as control, mirroring the realities faced by many young women. While the first half of the film was noted by some critics as slow, it sharply flips to critique the very romantic tropes it initially seemed to embrace,.

A crucial moment involves Bhooma visiting Vicky’s mother, who has been effectively silenced and subjected to a rulebook written by someone who hates women. Vicky proudly explains that his father used his belt during marital conversations and disliked his wife speaking around guests. This visit is a quiet horror for Bhooma, prompting her uncomfortable realization that Vicky and her own controlling father are similar figures claiming authority over her life. The movie’s strength lies in its brave exploration of relationships that become claustrophobic, depicting toxicity not always as loud or violent, but often residing in emotional dominance and the need to control.

Rashmika Mandanna: The Performance That Redefined Success

Rashmika Mandanna’s portrayal of Bhooma Devi has been widely celebrated, often described as her "career-best show" and a "knock-out performance",,. Critics lauded her ability to elevate the film with "grace and vulnerability," highlighting her magnetic presence and skill in handling the "emotional crescendos",,.

For Mandanna herself, the success of The Girlfriend was uniquely meaningful. Despite being the female lead in blockbusters like the Pushpa franchise and Animal, she revealed that commercial numbers and high visibility did not bring the same sense of accomplishment as this film did,. She shared that The Girlfriend finally made her feel successful "in her heart".

"But The Girlfriend reaching people's hearts — somehow that has truly made me feel like I have arrived. For the first time, I really felt that love," Mandanna stated.

The emotional depth of the film connected profoundly with the audience. Mandanna was particularly moved by how closely female viewers related to Bhooma, noting that "90% of the women come out and say, ‘this is my story’". This overwhelming response underscored the painful reality the film tackled, making Mandanna want to offer comfort to everyone affected by such pain.

Watching The Girlfriend on OTT

For those who missed the theatrical run, or wish to re-watch this intense relationship drama, The Girlfriend movie OTT release has made the film highly accessible.

The film, which grossed over ₹29 crore at the box office, is now available for streaming on Netflix. It began streaming on the platform from 5 December 2025. Crucially, the film is available in multiple languages beyond its original Telugu language, streaming in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam.

The Girlfriend has been noted as an important, introspective drama that aims to show healing alongside heartbreak,. While some critiques point to slow pacing or predictable elements, the film’s powerful message about accountability in relationships, coupled with Mandanna’s stellar performance, makes it a vital watch