Moving beyond the bubbly, lighthearted roles that defined her stardom, Rashmika Mandanna’s recent projects — led by the intense thriller The Girlfriend and the upcoming Mysaa — signal a transition toward gritty, female-led narratives. Rashmika, however, insists that this evolution has not come from a deliberate change in strategy. “I don’t think my approach to choosing films or scripts will change. I take up projects because I genuinely want to do them, and that remains the same,” she says.What she does hope for is a broader change within the industry. “I hope that more directors and writers create strong, meaningful roles for women. It’s important — women have the ability, the screen presence, and the depth to deliver powerful performances. When we’re given well-written characters, we can truly do justice to them. I also hope more women step forward to tell their own stories and make films.”