Rashmika Mandanna calls Vijay Deverakonda a 'one-man show' in Ranabaali

Rashmika Mandanna has called Vijay Deverakonda a "one-man show" in Ranabaali, the period drama directed by Rahul Sankrityan in which she plays Jayamma.

At a press conference in Hyderabad, she compared his work to Allu Arjun's in Pushpa 2: The Rule, which she also starred in. "Bunny sir as Bunny sir and Bunny sir as Pushpa were two different people," she said. She added that Vijay seemed just as changed on set, compared with the man she sees at home. The two have already worked together in Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade, but she said Ranabaali and Jayamma moved her in a new way.

On social media, she spoke to Vijay directly. "I told you and I keep telling you that I am a fan and I will forever be a fan of your work," she wrote. She said watching audiences praise his hard work gave her joy, peace and happiness.

Jayamma, she wrote, taught her what being a woman really means: standing up for her people, protecting them and loving them with everything she has. She described the film as a story about a community's strength, faith in God, finding joy in small things during dark times, and people fighting side by side when an outsider tries to step in.

Sankrityan got high praise too. She called him "one of the most BEAUTIFUL storytellers we have in our country today" and said she hopes his storytelling is always protected. She thanked the whole team for coming together to finish the film, and signed off as "Your Jayamma".