Dheekshith Shetty, one of the well-known Kannada actors, was prominently seen as Natural Star Nani's buddy in Dasara. Director Rahul Ravindran, while watching his promotional interviews for his breakout Telugu movie, felt that he suited Vikram in his script The Girlfriend perfectly.
Ahead of the release of The Girlfriend this Friday, Dheekshith suggests that those in the 18-25 age group will be particularly liking the film, finding numerous relatable elements in it. Dheeraj Mogilineni and Vidya Koppineedi are bankrolling this November 7th release.
By the time I was onboarded, Rashmika was in. Having worked in multiple languages, I can say that The Girlfriend is unique in many ways. It's a rare story. This is the biggest opportunity for me since Dasara.
Rashmika is down-to-earth and simple. Even after a blockbuster like Animal, her behaviour with others on the set was like before. Nobody else could have played Bhooma better than Rashmika. The audience are not going to see the actor; they are going to see only the character.
It's the director's clarity of thought that helped me portray Vikram with a distinct body language, speaking style and behaviour. While the trailer might have made the audience believe that he exhibits toxic personality traits, Rahul's idea of Vikram is that he is not a negative character. Toxicity is not just about habits like smoking and boozing. In real life, it takes many forms. Rahul has tried to show some of them through my character. The Girlfriend is the kind of story even the family audience will completely relate to.
I come from a stage-acting background. I am also a trained actor. Therefore, I approached Vikram methodically. As far as I am concerned, I should be able to connect with the story at an intimate level.
Forget the usual rom-com clichés. The Girlfriend offers a refreshing new perspective on romance. While many films are purely for entertainment, this one is different—it's the kind of movie that stays with you, carrying its emotions and lessons long after you leave the theater. Unlike larger-than-life spectacles, The Girlfriend excels by presenting characters and moments that genuinely mirror our own lives.
As I have said before, I received advance payment for another film from Allu Aravind garu even before the release of The Girlfriend. When he asked me to see him at his office, I was not sure what it was about. I was pleasantly surprised to see him appreciate my performance.
My Kannada film, Bank of Bhagyalakshmi, is being released in Telugu later this month. I am currently working on a Telugu film titled Shabana. I am also acting in one more untitled Telugu film. Another project, KJQ (Kannada original), is complete and ready for release. I am currently shooting for a film alongside Shiva Rajkumar sir. The film Angel No.1 is gearing up for its release in Malayalam.
