On April 5, 2025, Rashmika Mandanna celebrated her 29th birthday, marking another year of her incredible journey as one of India’s most loved actresses. Known as the “National Crush of India,” Rashmika has won hearts with her charming smile, acting talent, and down-to-earth personality. Her story is one of hard work, passion, and success. From a small town in Karnataka to starring in blockbuster films across India, Rashmika’s life is inspiring. This article tells her complete story in simple English, perfect for beginners to understand.
Early Life And Family
Rashmika Mandanna was born on April 5, 1996, in Virajpet, a small town in Kodagu, Karnataka. She grew up in a middle-class Kodava Hindu family. Her father, Madan Mandanna, owns a coffee estate and a function hall named Serenity in Virajpet. Her mother, Suman Mandanna, is a homemaker. Rashmika has a younger sister named Shiman Mandanna, whom she loves dearly. She often shares pictures with her sister on social media. Rashmika’s family supported her dreams, even though they were hesitant at first about her acting career.
As a child, Rashmika was lively and loved performing arts. She was shy but dreamed of acting in films. Her parents noticed her passion but worried about her quiet nature. They wanted her to focus on studies. Rashmika studied at Coorg Public School in Kodagu for her primary and secondary education. Later, she joined Mysore Institute of Commerce and Arts for her pre-university course. She then moved to Bengaluru to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Journalism, and English Literature at M.S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science, and Commerce. Even while studying, she was drawn to acting and modeling.
Entry into Modeling
Rashmika’s journey to fame began with modeling. In 2014, while in college, she participated in the Clean & Clear Fresh Face contest. She won the title, which changed her life. This victory made her the brand ambassador for Clean & Clear. She started getting modeling offers. In 2015, she won La Mode Bangalore’s Top Model Hunt. Her photos appeared in newspapers, catching the attention of filmmakers. Rashmika believed modeling would help her enter the film industry. Her parents were unsure about her career choice but supported her after seeing her dedication.
Rashmika Mandanna Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Net Worth, Boyfriend, Husband, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rashmika Mandanna |
| Date of Birth | April 5, 1996 |
| Place of Birth | Virajpet, Kodagu, Karnataka, India |
| Age (as of June 9, 2025) | 29 years |
| Family | Father: Madan Mandanna (owns coffee estate, Serenity function hall) Mother: Suman Mandanna (homemaker) Sister: Shiman Mandanna |
| Education | School: Coorg Public School, Kodagu Pre-University: Mysore Institute of Commerce and Arts College: M.S. Ramaiah College, Bengaluru (B.A. in Psychology, Journalism, and English Literature) |
| Early Career | Started as a model in 2014 Won Clean & Clear Fresh Face contest (2014) Won La Mode Bangalore’s Top Model Hunt (2015) Brand ambassador for Clean & Clear |
| Acting Debut | Kannada film: Kirik Party (2016) as Saanvi |
| Major Kannada Films | Kirik Party (2016), Anjani Putra (2017), Chamak (2017) |
| Telugu Film Breakthrough | Chalo (2018), Geetha Govindam (2018), Devadas (2018) |
| Other Notable Telugu Films | Dear Comrade (2019), Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020), Bheeshma (2020), Pushpa: The Rise (2021) |
| Tamil Films | Sulthan (2021), Varisu (2023) |
| Hindi Films | Goodbye (2022), Mission Majnu (2023), Animal (2023), Chhaava (2025) |
| Pan-India Success | Pushpa: The Rise (2021), Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024) |
| Upcoming Films | Pushpa 3: The Rampage, Sikandar (with Salman Khan) |
| Awards | SIIMA Award for Best Debut Actress (Kirik Party, 2016) Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu (Geetha Govindam, 2018) Best Actor Critics Choice – Behindwoods Gold Medals (Dear Comrade, 2019) Zee Kannada Hemmeya Kannadathi Award for Best Actress (Anjani Putra, 2017) Nominated for Filmfare Best Actress – Kannada (Chamak, 2017) |
| Achievements | Named “National Crush of India” by Google (2020) Forbes India “30 Under 30” list (2024) Listed as a top influential actor on social media by Forbes India (2021) |
| Brand Endorsements | Clean & Clear, The Wedding Journals of India, and others |
| Social Work | National Ambassador for Promoting Cyber Safety (Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, October 2024) |
| Personal Life | Engaged to Rakshit Shetty (2017), ended in 2018 Rumored relationships with Vijay Deverakonda and Chiranjiv Makwana (unconfirmed) |
| Hobbies | Traveling, working out |
| Physical Features | Has a tattoo that says “Irreplaceable” on her right forearm |
| Social Media | Over 42 million followers on Instagram |
| Net Worth | Estimated Rs. 45–80 crore |
| Properties | Mansion in Virajpet, holiday home in Goa |
| Car Collection | Mercedes Sedan, BMW, Range Rover |
| Controversies | Faced online trolling (2019) Income Tax Department raid (2020) Criticized for roles in male-centric films like Animal and Pushpa |
| Personality Traits | Humble, hardworking, family-oriented, dedicated |
Acting Debut and Early Success
Rashmika’s big break came in 2016 with the Kannada film *Kirik Party*. Director Rishab Shetty spotted her in a newspaper after her modeling win. He offered her the lead role of Saanvi, a college student. Rashmika connected with the character because she, too, was studious and felt overlooked in school. The film was a huge hit, becoming one of the highest-grossing Kannada films. Critics praised her natural acting. She won the SIIMA Award for Best Debut Actress. Rashmika later said that if *Kirik Party* had failed, she would have returned to manage her father’s business.
In 2017, Rashmika starred in two more Kannada films, *Anjani Putra* and *Chamak*. Both were commercial successes. In *Anjani Putra*, she acted opposite Puneeth Rajkumar, and her performance earned her the Best Actress award at the Zee Kannada Hemmeya Kannadathi Awards. In *Chamak*, she starred with Ganesh and was nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Her charm and acting skills made her a star in the Kannada film industry, earning her the title “Karnataka Crush.”
Telugu Film Breakthrough
In 2018, Rashmika entered Telugu cinema with the romantic drama *Chalo*, opposite Naga Shaurya. The film was a hit, and audiences loved her fresh energy. The same year, she starred in *Geetha Govindam* with Vijay Deverakonda. This romantic comedy became a blockbuster, earning her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu. Her role as Geetha was widely praised, and she became a leading actress in Telugu cinema. She also appeared in *Devadas* in 2018, further establishing her fame.
In 2019, Rashmika starred in *Dear Comrade* with Vijay Deverakonda. Though the film did not do well at the box office, her emotional performance was appreciated. Critics called it one of her best roles. She won the Best Actor Critics Choice award at the Behindwoods Gold Medals. In 2020, she acted in two Telugu blockbusters, *Sarileru Neekevvaru* with Mahesh Babu and *Bheeshma* with Nithiin. Both films were huge successes, making her one of the highest-paid actresses in South India.
Pan-India Stardom
Rashmika’s fame grew with the 2021 Telugu film *Pushpa: The Rise*, starring Allu Arjun. Her role as Srivalli won hearts across India. The film’s pan-India success made her a national star. Her dance in the song “Saami Saami” became iconic. In 2022, she played a supporting role in the period drama *Sita Ramam*, which was loved by audiences. The same year, she entered Tamil cinema with *Sulthan*, opposite Karthi, and Bollywood with *Goodbye*, starring Amitabh Bachchan. Though *Goodbye* did not do well, her acting was appreciated.
In 2023, Rashmika starred in the Tamil film *Varisu* with Thalapathy Vijay and the Hindi film *Mission Majnu* with Sidharth Malhotra. Her role in *Mission Majnu* as a visually impaired woman was challenging. She attended workshops to prepare but received mixed reviews. The same year, she appeared in the Hindi action drama *Animal* with Ranbir Kapoor. The film was a massive hit but faced criticism for its male-centric story. In 2024, *Pushpa 2: The Rule* became one of her biggest successes. In 2025, she starred in the historical action film *Chhaava*, further proving her versatility.
Personal Life and Relationships
Rashmika’s personal life has often been in the news. During the making of *Kirik Party*, she started dating her co-star and director, Rakshit Shetty. They got engaged in July 2017 in a private ceremony in Virajpet. However, in September 2018, they called off their engagement due to compatibility issues. Rashmika handled the breakup gracefully and focused on her career. Rumors linked her with Vijay Deverakonda and director Chiranjiv Makwana, but she never confirmed these relationships. She prefers to keep her personal life private.
Rashmika is close to her family. She once shared that she was so busy filming *Pushpa: The Rise* for 18 months that she couldn’t visit her parents. She jokingly said they might have “disowned” her. Rashmika loves spending time with her sister, Shiman, and often posts about her on Instagram, where she has over 42 million followers.
Awards and Achievements
Rashmika has won many awards. She received four SIIMA Awards, including Best Debut Actress for *Kirik Party* and Best Actress for *Geetha Govindam*. She also won a Filmfare Award South for *Geetha Govindam*. In 2024, Forbes India included her in their “30 Under 30” list. Google named her the “National Crush of India” in 2020 for her charm and popularity. She was also listed as one of the most influential actors on social media by Forbes India in 2021.
Brand Endorsements and Social Work
Besides acting, Rashmika is a brand ambassador for several products, including Clean & Clear and The Wedding Journals of India. She is active on social media, sharing updates about her life and films. In October 2024, she was appointed the National Ambassador for Promoting Cyber Safety by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre. This came after she faced cybercrime in 2023 when a fake video of her went viral. Rashmika spoke out against it, showing her strength.
Challenges and Controversies
Rashmika has faced challenges. In 2019, a troll called her names online, hurting her feelings. In 2020, the Income Tax Department raided her house over tax issues, but she cooperated fully. Some critics say her roles in films like *Animal* and *Pushpa* limit her acting scope due to male-centric stories. Despite this, Rashmika chooses diverse roles to grow as an actress.
Hobbies
Rashmika loves traveling and working out. She has a tattoo that says “Irreplaceable” on her right forearm. Her fans love her for her warm smile and humble nature. She stays connected to her roots and values her family’s support. Rashmika is known for her hard work and dedication, balancing studies and acting early in her career.
Net Worth
Rashmika’s net worth is estimated to be around Rs. 45–80 crore. She owns a mansion in Virajpet and a holiday home in Goa. Her car collection includes a Mercedes Sedan, BMW, and Range Rover. Despite her wealth, she remains simple and grounded.
Future Projects
Rashmika is set to star in *Pushpa 3: The Rampage* and *Sikandar* with Salman Khan. Her fans are excited to see her in more diverse roles. With her talent and charm, Rashmika Mandanna continues to shine as a pan-India star.
Conclusion
Rashmika Mandanna’s journey from a small town to becoming a national icon is inspiring. Her hard work, talent, and humility make her a role model. From *Kirik Party* to *Pushpa*, she has proven her versatility. Rashmika’s story teaches us to dream big and never give up. She is truly India’s “National Crush.”