Gunjan Chaudhary
Actress Rashmika Mandanna is riding high on both personal and professional success. After tying the knot with Vijay Deverakonda on February 26 in Udaipur, the star has now added another milestone to her journey by winning Best Actress at the Telangana Gadar Film Awards 2025. Rashmika received the prestigious award for her performance in The Girlfriend, where she portrayed the character Bhuma Devi.
Rashmika Mandanna
Rashmika Mandanna Addressed Criticism
Interestingly, when the film released in November, her performance faced criticism and trolling, especially from sections of the Telugu audience. Addressing this during her acceptance speech, Rashmika said, “Initially, people mocked my acting, and now this very state has given me this award. I have come a long way.” Her candid statement struck a chord, earning loud applause from the audience.
Rashmika Mandanna
The awards ceremony was held in Hyderabad and hosted by the Government of Telangana. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy honored the winners. Other major winners included, Naga Chaitanya – Best Actor for Thandel, Chiranjeevi – NTR National Film Award, Kamal Haasan – Paddy Jayaraj Film Award. Rashmika, who hails from Karnataka, has often faced trolling in the Telugu film industry over the years.
Rashmika Mandanna
From her accent to her casting choices, social media criticism followed her career closely. Despite this, she largely remained silent, until now. Her emotional speech reflected resilience and growth, as she acknowledged the journey from criticism to recognition. Adding a personal touch, Rashmika spoke about her recent marriage and her connection to the state. Referring to her new identity, she said, “Earlier, I came here as a daughter. Today, I stand as a daughter-in-law. It’s a matter of pride for me.”
Rashmika Mandanna
Her husband, Vijay Deverakonda, had earlier urged fans to accept Rashmika warmly as the daughter-in-law of the state. The actress also shared that she recently celebrated Ugadi, her first festival after marriage. She revealed that she completed her prayers before attending the awards ceremony, calling it a fulfilling and special experience. Rashmika expressed heartfelt thanks to Director Rahul Ravindran, Geetha Arts, and Government of Telangana.