BIFFes 2026: Rahul Ravindran on how ‘The Girlfriend’ is an antithesis to glorified male archetypes

At the Bengaluru International Film Festival, director Rahul Ravindran spoke about his latest film ‘The Girlfriend’ and called Rashmika Mandanna an “incredible actor”

AAt the Masterclass session of the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival, actor-director Rahul Ravindran offered a thoughtful account of his filmmaking process, drawing extensively from his latest directorial venture, The Girlfriend. Moderated by senior journalist Latha Srinivasan, the discussion explored casting choices, narrative perspective, writing discipline, and the ethical responsibilities of a filmmaker.

Explaining why he chose Rashmika Mandanna for the role of Bhoomi, Rahul said he was looking for an actor capable of expressing emotional complexity through silence.

“The biggest burden in toxic relationships is silence and gaslighting,” he noted. “I wanted an actor who could communicate inner conflict through the eyes.” Describing Rashmika as “luminous” and “incredible,” he said her expressive gaze — which he fondly called “headlight eyes” — perfectly suited the character. He added that he hoped her performance would be widely recognized and open doors to more challenging roles.

Responding to a question on presenting the story from a female perspective, Rahul observed that recent Indian films have increasingly glorified male archetypes such as the Devadas or the self-pitying ‘soup boy’. “These characters are often romanticised,” he said.

“I wanted to shift the gaze and present the woman’s perspective.” The seed of The Girlfriend, he revealed, originated from a college experience that left a deep impression on him. Although the male character Vikram was the first to take shape in his mind, the story took nearly three to four years to fully form. At one point, Rahul admitted, he questioned whether the narrative would still be relevant. “After the release, I realised how relatable it remained,” he said.

On casting Dheekshith Shetty as the male lead, Rahul explained that he deliberately avoided established stars from Telugu cinema. “An outsider comes without baggage,” he said. “There is less pressure from industry expectations.” He added that he pays close attention to an actor’s eyes during casting, recalling that he discovered Shetty during an interview around the time of Dasara and found the sharpness he was seeking.