How Did Rashmika Mandanna's Roles in Pushpa and Chhaava Make Her a Braver Actor?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rashmika Mandanna highlights the impact of her roles on her personal and professional growth.
- The characters of Srivalli and Maharani Yesubai symbolize strength and authenticity.
- Her experiences emphasize the importance of leading with honesty and emotional depth in acting.
- Pushpa and Chhaava have achieved remarkable box office success, showcasing contemporary cinema's impact.
- Rashmika's journey inspires aspiring actors to embrace their characters fully.
Mumbai, Aug 6 (NationPress) Actress and the “National Crush” Rashmika Mandanna has shared insights into the transformative roles she has embraced, stating that portraying Srivalli in the Pushpa franchise and Maharani Yesubai in Chhaava has significantly enhanced her courage as an actor.
In response to whether there’s been a character or film that has reshaped her as an individual, Rashmika, who is also the founder of the fragrance brand Dear Diary, expressed to IANS: “Absolutely! Both Pushpa and Chhaava have deeply motivated me.”
She further elaborated that it is the characters of Srivalli and Maharani Yesubai that have been pivotal to her transformation.
“Taking on the roles of Srivalli and Maharani Yesubai has genuinely empowered me as an actor. They are both resilient, fearless, and unapologetically authentic,”
she shared.
The actress emphasized, “Portraying these characters has taught me to act with integrity, trust my instincts, and inject genuine emotion into every scene.”
Discussing the “Pushpa” series, a Telugu drama film franchise crafted by Sukumar, which features Allu Arjun and Rashmika in leading roles.
The inaugural part, “Pushpa: The Rise,” debuted in 2021, showcasing Arjun as Pushpa Raj, a laborer who ascends the ranks of a red sandalwood smuggling operation in the late 1990s. Starting with minimal earnings, he aspires for a better future. It emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of 2021.
The sequel, Pushpa 2: The Rule, was released in 2024 and shattered numerous opening day records, becoming the highest day-one grossing film in India. It narrates the journey of Pushpa Raj, a laborer-turned-smuggler, grappling with increasing dangers from adversaries, including SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat.
This sequel ultimately became the highest-grossing Indian film of 2024, the leading film in India, the second highest-grossing Telugu film, and the third highest-grossing Indian film ever.
Meanwhile, Chhaava is a grand historical action narrative focusing on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj, the second sovereign of the Maratha Empire, portrayed by Vicky Kaushal. This adaptation of the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant is directed by Laxman Utekar.