Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda talk trolls and marriage before Ranabaali

Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda are doing a run of interviews ahead of Ranabaali, their first film together since they got married. Across these chats, the couple has spoken openly about online trolling, possessiveness and the small habits that keep a marriage strong.

In one YouTube conversation, Rashmika was asked about social media users who mock her warm, friendly behaviour as "overacting". She said kindness is not weakness, and that she wants to spread some positivity because there is so much negativity around. She also said not everyone will like her, and that she is happy being herself and will not fake her nature to please anyone.

Vijay backed her up. He said a lot of the trolling aimed at actors and politicians is "manufactured". He asked how people can hold strong views about someone they have never met, and pointed out how easy it is to run several accounts and push a narrative. In his view, such attacks should not make anyone change the way they behave.

In a separate pre-release chat, Vijay reportedly admitted he is possessive about his wife, but said it has nothing to do with jealousy. He explained that her career, health, happiness and safety all matter to him, and that he wants to help when any of them needs attention. Rashmika laughed and said it would be a problem if he were not possessive. Fans reacted warmly to his answer online.

On a podcast, Rashmika also talked about small gestures, like asking about a partner's day, that couples tend to drop once they get comfortable. Vijay agreed she is the more mature one in the relationship, and revealed that she says "I love you" to him 10 to 15 times a day, while he tends to assume she already knows.

Directed by Rahul Sankrityan, Ranabaali is a period drama set in 19th-century South India. It follows a man who rises up against a famine created by the British, and Arnold Vosloo also plays a lead role. The film reunites the pair after Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade, and it releases in theatres on October 16.