Rashmika Mandanna slammed trolls after facing backlash for her comments on Koffee with Karan. She clarified that her relationship with Vijay is built on deep understanding rather than just romantic gestures. “I am all heart, and he is the thinker,” she said, defending their bond against online criticism today.
“Somewhere along the way, the whole point got lost. Maybe it didn’t fit your lens. Maybe some of you simply don’t want to see it,” she wrote, explaining why she had decided to respond.
One aspect of the episode that drew scrutiny was the couple’s discussion about marriage and how many times Rashmika would choose Vijay. The The Girlfriend actor clarified that their conversation was not about counting proposals or waiting for an elaborate romantic gesture.
According to Rashmika, Vijay wanted them to take their time, understand each other and be certain about the life they wanted to build together. He also wanted them to consider the practical aspects of their future rather than rush into a decision.
Rashmika, meanwhile, said she was clear about what she wanted. She stressed that neither approach was wrong, describing their differences as complementary.
“I am all heart, and he is the thinker – and we need that in each other’s lives,” she wrote.
For Rashmika, marriage is not defined by getting down on one knee or putting a ring on someone’s finger. Those are merely “the decorative part”. What matters is building a life and a future together, something she believes they have done well.
“And yes, I am obsessed with my man. When did that become a bad thing?” she asked.
Rashmika described Vijay as her lifelong companion, her friend through the ordinary and extraordinary moments, the father of her children and the person with whom she wants to grow old. Asked how many times she would choose him, she had a straightforward answer: “I would do it a thousand times – 100 is nothing.”
Feminism or bullying?
Rashmika also addressed women who had taken to social media to offer her relationship advice, including suggestions that she should leave Vijay. While acknowledging their concern, she questioned how people could draw conclusions about a relationship they knew little about.
She said she wished some of them had been around a few years ago, when she was going through a particularly difficult period.
“You weren’t there. He was, and he is even right now,” she wrote.
The actor went on to describe how Vijay had supported her through health troubles, hospital visits and moments when anxiety woke her in the middle of the night. When she breaks down, she said, he is the person whose shoulder she turns to.
“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been,” Rashmika wrote, adding that she hoped people could see that happiness in her face, performances, films and the way she lives. She described herself as happy, content and blessed, questioning why some people seemed more willing to believe misleading edits and online narratives than her own account of her life.
She clarified that she was not asking everyone to agree with her choices. Instead, she hoped people would find someone who loved them as deeply as they loved that person, while wishing happiness to those who wanted a different kind of life.
Rashmika was particularly upset by statements directed at her family during the online discussion. While saying she could handle criticism aimed at her, she drew a distinction between that and people making assumptions about relatives they did not know.
“That’s not feminism. That’s bullying dressed up as feminism,” she wrote.
For Rashmika, feminism is not about putting someone else down or establishing the superiority of one gender over another. It is about having the freedom to make decisions about one’s own life and take responsibility for them. She said she had made her choices and had been rewarded with immense love.
She also acknowledged her Kannadiga fans, expressing gratitude for the affection they have continued to show her over the past 10 years.
‘We are both gloriously happy’
Concluding her long Instagram post, Rashmika sent love to those who celebrate happiness and relationships, while encouraging others to find something that brings them joy, too.
She added that her message was not about convincing everyone to view her relationship the way she does. It was about making it clear that she and Vijay are comfortable with the life they have chosen and that outside opinions will not determine how they move forward together.
Meanwhile, Deverakonda, too, responded to the criticism. Sharing romantic pictures of the two of them, the actor made it clear that the couple is happy and unwilling to let online trolling affect their marriage.
“My best friend, my wife, my woman. One of the most beautiful parts of my life that I got absolutely right. For all those concerned, we are both gloriously happy. I am blessed. If it’s me and her against the world — so be it,” he wrote.