• Birthplace: Virajpet, India
• Age: 28
• Height: 161 cm
• Weight: 54 kg
• Website: N/A

Rashmika Mandanna (born 5 April 1996) is an Indian film actress and model who works predominantly in Telugu and Kannada films. She is popularly dubbed by the media and Kannada film industry as the 'Karnataka Crush'. Rashmika is one among very few actresses to have a film gross ₹1 billion in such a short span and one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses in Telugu and Kannada cinema industry.

Rashmika made her acting debut in Kannada 2016 film Kirik Party. In 2017 she starred in two commercially successful films, Anjani Putra and Chamak. Later she made her Telugu debut with romantic drama Chalo in 2018. In the same year, she starred in the romcom film Geetha Govindam, which has become one of the highest profit earners in Telugu cinema, which earned her wide recognition. Her third Telugu venture was multi-starrer big budget film titled Devadas. It marked her third consecutive successful film in the same year in Telugu film industry after achieving a first hat trick-hit in Kannada film industry, established herself as one of the leading actresses of Telugu and Kannada cinema.

She starred in the commercially successful films such as Kirik Party (2016), Anjani Putra (2017), Chamak (2017), Chalo (2018), Geetha Govindam (2018), Yajamana (2019), Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020) and Bheeshma (2020) The back to back success of films has made her one of the most sought-after actresses in south Indian film industry.

Rashmika Mandanna was born on 5 April 1996 as the elder daughter of Suman and Madan Mandanna in Virajpet, a town in Kodagu district of Karnataka. She did her schooling in Coorg Public School (COPS), Kodagu before she pursued pre-university course in Mysore Institute of commerce and arts, she has bachelor's degree in Psychology, Journalism and English Literature from Ramaiah college of Arts, Science and Commerce, along with her studies she was doing modeling and appeared in a couple of advertisements.

Rashmika got engaged to actor Rakshit Shetty. They began dating during making of Kirik Party and got engaged on 3 July 2017 in a private ceremony in her hometown of Virajpet. The couple mutually broke off their engagement in September 2018, citing compatibility issues.

Rashmika began modelling in 2012. She won the Clean & Clear Fresh Face of India title the same year and was made the brand ambassador of Clean & Clear. Then she got the title of TVC in Lamode Bangalore's top model hunt 2013. Her pictures from the competition impressed the makers of the film Kirik Party who then cast her as the female lead for the film in early 2014.

In an interview with The Times of India, she recalled: "The makers of Kirik Party saw a picture of mine from the Clean & Clear Fresh Face of India 2012 competition — one in which I was dancing during the college round — and approached me to act in the film. So, it really got things going. I always wanted to be in films." She was cast as Saanvi Joseph, a college-goer, and the love interest of Karna (played by Rakshit Shetty).

Kannada debut and breakthrough (2016–17)

Rashmika made her debut with Kirik Party in 2016, which opened to widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike and went on to become highest-grossing film of the year by collecting ₹50 crore against production budget ₹4 crore, and completed 150-days in main centers of Karnataka, alongside Rashmika's performance received praise for her performance as Saanvi. The writer Sunayana Suresh of The Times of India states that "Rashmika Mandanna as Saanvi is easy that pin-up girl in college and she breathes her path." The film's reviewer for The New Indian Express wrote, "Rashmika Mandanna has outshone in the film along with the main character". The Deccan Chronicle`s Shashiprasad noted that "Beautiful senior Saanvi played by Rashmika Mandanna, her beautiful and cute portrayal of Saanvi will surely remind all the guys their unforgettable crush from college days." This won her SIIMA Award for the Best Debut Actress.

In 2017, Rashmika's first release was Harsha's Anjani Putra opposite Puneeth Rajkumar, which ran for 50-days in some theatres of Karnataka. The Times of India's Sunayana Suresh wrote that "Rashmika Mandanna as cute as the leading lady and shows that she has comic timing that can be tapped in to." The Cineloka's writer stated that "Rashmika Mandanna as his love interest plays a good-natured, jaunty girl next door and delivers good performance." The New Indian Express`s Sharadhaa claimed that "This is Rashmika Mandanna’s first movie with Puneeth and she has upped her glam quotient, even while keeping her girl-next-door appeal." it earned her Zee Kannada Hemmeya Kannadati award for Best Actress and Luv lavike Readers Choice Award for Best Actress.

Her next and last release was Chamak opposite Ganesh, which ran for 100-days in a couple of theatres, she receives critical acclaim from critics for her role as Khushi, The Times of India's writer Sunayana Suresh stated that "Rashmika has done a good job at ensuring the audience are with them throughout". While Bangalore Mirror`s writer Shyam Prasad claimed that "Rashmika sparkles in acting." The New Indian Express`s Sharadhaa wrote that "Rashmika Mandanna emerges as a good artiste in her third outing. The actress, who comes in two shades has taken responsibility for her character, and it shows." Latter garnered her first nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada at 65th Filmfare Awards South. three consecutive films in Kannada language all succeeded at the box office makes her 'hat-trick' heroine in Kannada film industry.

Debut and fame in Telugu: 2018

She made her Telugu film debut opposite Naga Shourya with the film titled Chalo., which ran for 100-days in some theatres, critics have been heaped praise on Rashmika for her performance. The First post`s Hemanth Kumar wrote that "Rashmika makes a terrific debut and she’s a joy to watch on screen". While writer of The Hindu`s Srivathsan Nadadhur stated that she makes a "Confident debut". Idlebrain's Jeevi noted that she was "very cute and acts well". The Greatandra stated that "Kannada heroine Rashmika is cute." The 123Telugu stated that "Rashmika makes an impressive debut and suits perfectly in her role." Telugu360's editor wrote that "Rashmika lent good support to Shaurya with her performance. She is bubbly and effervescent in comedy scenes and shows good promise as an actress."

Her next film was Geetha Govindam opposite Vijay Devarakonda, which opened to positive reviews and went on to collect over ₹130 crore against production budget ₹5 crore and ran for 100-days in couple of theatres. and brought her much recognition, making her very popular in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, alongside she received immense critical appraisal from both critics and audience, Hindustan Times`s Priyanka Sundar noted that "Rashmika have taken this solid plot a notch higher with their delightful performances. Rashmika especially will have you rooting for her throughout the film". The writer of The Times of India stated that "Rashmika too sparkles and the scenes between the two is what makes Geetha Govindam so likeable". The Indian Express claimed that "Rashmika as uncompromising Geetha also does a pretty good job". The Hindu stated that "She has an easy screen presence and the potential to handle more well-written parts". First post`s writer noted that "Rashmika and Vijay, who makes it an enjoyable watch. Being paired on-screen for the first time, they performed their respective roles very well."

Her next release was multi-starrer big budget film titled Devadas, she shared a space with Akkineni Nagarjuna and Nani as one of the main lead in the film along Akanksha Singh. It marked her hat-trick hit film in her career in Telugu film industry according to few regional reliable sources. She had less screen space, though received critical appraisal for her performance. Chitramala`s writer noted that "Rashmika Mandanna impressed in her role and made her presence felt." The Times of India's writer states that "Rashmika deserved better character arc, even though she plays a people of prominence."

Continued success and Tamil debut (2019-20)

Rashmika started 2019 acting in Yajamana, Kannada language film opposite Darshan, which received decent reviews from the both audience and critics upon the release. And began earning a profit within five-days of its release. Later it collected over ₹50 crore against production budget ₹18 crore and ran for over 100-days in some theatres in Karnataka. She has been received critical acclaim for her performance as Kaveri, Times Of India editor claimed that "Rashmika Mandanna is cute and her pairing with Darshan works well". The New Indian Express editor noticed that "Rashmika Mandanna is allicient as the love interest and justifies the village girl’s character". In 2019, her next film was Dear Comrade opposite Vijay Devarakonda, which opened to mixed reviews from both critics and audience. It went on to become a financial failure and touted as first flop at box office in Rashmika's film career. Even though she received overwhelming critical acclaim for her performance in the film as 'Lilly'. It earned her first behindwood's gold medal award for best actor critics choice. She has gone on to win awards honouring her cinematic contributions, including Just for Women's Magazine "Sensation of the Year Award" and the "Youth Icon" award in Colors Tamil's "Wonder Women" Awards. She was invited to participate in a panel discussion ("Leading Actress") at the 2019 International Indian Film Academy Awards (the award function's Golden Jubilee) along with Nithya Menen moderated by the Indian film critic Baradwaj Rangan, which was organized in Goa.

In 2020 Rashmika starred opposite Mahesh Babu in Sarileru Neekevvaru, which opened to decent reviews from audience and critics upon the release and went on to become one of the highest grossing films in the Telugu film industry, and emerged as Rashmika's career highest profit erner to date by collecting ₹2 billion in just 10-days. And went on to collect over ₹2.6 billion in 50-days theatrical run at worldwide box office. The reviewer of Times Of India Neeshita Nyayapati, stated "Rashmika Mandanna woos, gets hyper, dances, has a catch-line, all for the male lead, but why she exists in this tale, other than to fawn over him is a mystery." The editor of India Today Janani K, claimed that "We see Rashmika playing a typical 'loosu ponnu' (read: A mindless heroine who acts like a kid) who keeps stalking Mahesh Babu." Whereas, the editor of Hans India stated that "Rashmika Mandanna has impressed with her performance." Her next Telugu film in 2020 was Bheeshma opposite Nithiin, which opened to positive response from the both critics and audience. The film went on to become a financial hit at worldwide box office by collecting over ₹50 crore. She received praise for her performance as Chaitra. The Firstpost's editor Hemanth Kumar praised her chemistry with Nithiin.