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EYE ON BOLLYWOOD OCTOBER 31, 2025 | The Indian Eye 38

Rashmika Mandanna: The Reigning Queen of 2025

and Bollywood’s New Box-Office Powerhouse

With three blockbuster Hindi releases in a single year, Rashmika Mandanna has shattered industry norms,
proving she’s not just India’s “National Crush” but also one of its most bankable and versatile stars

OUR BUREAU With an opening of Rs 24 crore,
Thamma became her third consec-
Mumbai / Bengaluru
utive box-office success in less than
n the ever-evolving world of Indi- 10 months. Rashmika’s comic tim-
an cinema, few stories have been ing and infectious energy in the film
Ias compelling—or as meteoric— added levity to the eerie narrative,
as Rashmika Mandanna’s in 2025. earning her praise from both critics
Once known primarily for her charm and audiences. Her ability to carry a
and effervescent screen presence, supernatural comedy with the same
the actor has now transformed into confidence as a historical drama or
a formidable performer and box-of- an action film underlined her re-
fice magnet. With Chhaava, Sikandar, markable range.
and Thamma—three back-to-back What sets Rashmika apart is her
Hindi releases that each opened ability to connect across demograph-
among the year’s top five biggest ics. To the youth, she’s the face of as-
films—Rashmika has achieved what piration and relatability—frequently
even the most seasoned stars rarely dubbed “The National Crush” for
manage: consistency, versatility, and her natural charm and social media
mass appeal across genres. presence. To filmmakers, she rep-
It’s been a year of milestones for resents a new generation of actors
the 29-year-old star, who has steadily unafraid of experimentation.
expanded her presence from south- Trade analysts note that she has
ern cinema into Bollywood’s main- become a “reliable opening factor,”
stream. In 2025 alone, Rashmika has especially in the post-pandemic era
been part of Chhaava (Rs 31 crore where audience loyalty is fickle. Her
opening), Sikandar (Rs 26 crore), box-office consistency across genres
and Thamma (Rs 24 crore)—three and industries—spanning Tamil,
of the top five Hindi film openers Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi—po-
of the year, alongside War 2 and sitions her among the few genuine
Housefull 5. Her success has not only pan-India female stars.
reshaped her career trajectory but
also redefined what it means to be a BEYOND STARDOM
truly pan-Indian star. As she stands on the cusp of
From period drama to action superstardom, Rashmika shows no
thriller to horror comedy, Rashmi- Rashmika Mandanna at the album launch of her movie ‘Chhaava’ (ANI File Photo) signs of slowing down. She will next
ka’s performances this year have be seen in Pushpa: The Rule, the
underscored her adaptability. She’s and went on to collect a staggering erwise testosterone-driven narrative. highly anticipated sequel to the 2021
seamlessly moved between charac- Rs 807.91 crore worldwide, making The film’s Rs 26 crore open- blockbuster, alongside Allu Arjun.
ters—portraying historical figures, it the highest-grossing Hindi film of ing cemented Rashmika’s growing She’s also reportedly in talks for a
emotionally grounded heroines, and the year and the eighth-highest of all box-office credibility. Although major international streaming proj-
even quirky comic leads—with an time. Critics praised her for ground- Sikandar’s lifetime collection (Rs ect and a biopic that could further
assurance that belies her years in the ing the grand narrative with subtlety 184.6 crore globally) was moderate showcase her dramatic potential.
industry. and sincerity—qualities that helped compared to Chhaava, critics not- For an actor who entered the in-
Released on Valentine’s Day, her transcend the “commercial her- ed that Rashmika’s performance dustry less than a decade ago, Rash-
Chhaava was Rashmika’s first ma- oine” label. “humanized the film,” proving her mika Mandanna’s 2025 is not just a
jor Bollywood release of 2025—and Barely a month after Chhaa- strength lay not just in glamour but golden year—it’s a statement. She’s
arguably her most ambitious project va, Rashmika returned with Sikan- in emotional intelligence. not merely the “National Crush”
yet. Directed by Laxman Utekar and dar, an Eid release directed by A.R. Rounding off her extraordinary anymore. She’s a national phenom-
produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Mad- Murugadoss and headlined by Sal- year was Thamma, released this Di- enon, commanding audiences, critics,
dock Films, the Maratha-era histor- man Khan. A gritty action-drama wali as part of Maddock Films’ ex- and the box office alike.
ical epic starred Vicky Kaushal as with themes of redemption and sac- panding horror-comedy universe. In a year dominated by sequels
Sambhaji, the valiant son of Chha- rifice, the film demanded emotional Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, the and franchises, Rashmika has re-
trapati Shivaji Maharaj. Rashmika’s nuance—a challenge Rashmika met film starred Ayushmann Khurrana, minded Bollywood that freshness
performance, though understated, head-on. Playing the role of an em- Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Paresh Rawal, and fearlessness still sell—and that
brought emotional balance to a film pathetic anchor to Khan’s brooding and Rashmika in a wild, genre-bend- true stardom, like hers, is built not
brimming with power and patriotism. protagonist, she delivered a perfor- ing tale involving folklore, journal- just on beauty, but on bold choices
The film opened to Rs 31 crore mance that added depth to an oth- ism, and vampirism. and boundless versatility.

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