The Girlfriend Movie Review – Cast Details, Budget Report & Honest Verdict

Rashmika Mandanna delivers what might be her most powerful performance yet in The Girlfriend, a Telugu romantic drama that tackles toxic masculinity head-on.

Released on November 7, 2025, this Rahul Ravindran directorial has sparked intense conversations about controlling relationships and personal emancipation.

With a substantial ₹42 crore budget and backing from Geetha Arts, does The Girlfriend live up to its promise? Here’s our complete, spoiler-free honest verdict.

The Girlfriend: Quick Movie Details

Plot Summary: A Story of Emancipation

The Girlfriend follows Bhooma Devi (Rashmika Mandanna), an innocent and soft-natured young woman who arrives in Hyderabad from a small town to pursue her Master’s degree in English Literature at Ramalingaiah College. Raised by her single father Raghava Rao (Rao Ramesh), Bhooma has always been sheltered and struggles to assert herself.

Enter Vikram, also called Vikky (Dheekshith Shetty), an engineering student who befriends Bhooma and quickly declares his feelings. After inviting her to his hostel room to watch the film Hi Nanna, Vikram kisses her and publicly announces she’s his girlfriend—leaving Bhooma little choice in the matter. What begins as an uncomfortable romance soon transforms into a suffocating, controlling relationship.

As Vikram’s possessive behavior intensifies, Bhooma loses her father’s trust, her friends, and her mental peace. Branded “characterless” by her own father and trapped in a relationship that mirrors domestic abuse patterns, Bhooma must find the strength to break free.

The film explores her journey from passive acceptance to active emancipation, raising critical questions about consent, compatibility, and the cost of staying in toxic relationships.

The narrative deliberately avoids typical commercial Telugu cinema tropes, instead focusing on emotional realism and the psychological toll of being “the girlfriend” rather than her own person.

Cast Details & Performances: Rashmika Shines Bright

Rashmika Mandanna as Bhooma Devi: Career-Best Performance

Rashmika Mandanna absolutely owns The Girlfriend with what many critics are calling her career-best performance. Playing Bhooma, a recessive college-goer who struggles with self-assertion, Rashmika brings incredible nuance to a character defined by her relationships rather than her identity.

Her portrayal of innocence isn’t childish or exaggerated—it’s authentic and heartbreaking. Watch her eyes in key scenes: they convey more than dialogue ever could.

Whether it’s the moment she first realizes Vikram’s possessive nature or the powerful mirror scene where she visualizes her future, Rashmika’s emotional range is extraordinary.

Key Performance Highlights:

• The hostel room confrontation scene
• Silent suffering during family conflicts
• The interval bang moment (career-defining)
• Mirror sequence where she sees herself becoming Vikram’s mother
• Climax emancipation scenes

Despite looking slightly mature for a college student role, Rashmika’s acting prowess makes you forget about age appropriateness within the first fifteen minutes.

Her dialogue delivery in Telugu has improved significantly, and her body language perfectly captures Bhooma’s gradual transformation from timid to empowered.

Dheekshith Shetty as Vikram: Convincingly Toxic

Fresh from his breakthrough in Dasara, Dheekshith Shetty takes on a completely different avatar as Vikram—a charming exterior hiding a controlling, possessive partner underneath. This is not an easy role to play; the character needs to be detestable yet believable, toxic yet recognizable.

Dheekshith succeeds in making Vikram uncomfortably real. He’s not a villain in the traditional sense—he genuinely believes his behavior stems from love.

His swag and swagger in early scenes gradually reveal the manipulative patterns beneath. Whether it’s monitoring Bhooma’s movements, controlling her friendships, or emotionally blackmailing her, Dheekshith plays each shade with authenticity.

The actor deserves credit for taking on a role that audiences will hate. In an industry where heroes are worshipped, playing an anti-hero who embodies toxic masculinity requires courage.

Rao Ramesh as Raghava Rao: The Problematic Father

Rao Ramesh, one of Telugu cinema’s most reliable character actors, plays Bhooma’s single father. Unfortunately, the character itself is written as one-dimensional—an overly protective, emotionally abusive parent who calls his daughter “characterless” based on his rigid moral code.

While Rao Ramesh delivers the role sincerely, the writing doesn’t give him much to work with. The sudden emotional reconciliation in the climax feels unearned given his earlier behavior. However, in his limited screen time, Rao Ramesh does create impact, especially during the confrontation scene with Bhooma.

Rohini Molleti as Vikram’s Mother: Silent But Powerful

Rohini appears in a brief, almost wordless role as Vikram’s mother—a woman who has spent years under her late husband’s domination. Her silent interaction with Rashmika is one of the film’s finest moments. Without a single dialogue, she communicates decades of suffering and serves as a mirror showing Bhooma her potential future.

This scene alone demonstrates why Rohini is considered one of the finest performers in South Indian cinema. Her eyes, body language, and subtle expressions do all the talking.

Anu Emmanuel as Harshitha: Underutilized

Anu Emmanuel plays Harshitha, Bhooma’s college friend who represents the confident, modern woman. Unfortunately, the character feels underwritten and confusing. Her subplot about becoming a victim of Vikram’s obscene graffiti could have been powerful but is handled superficially.

The lack of proper character development means Anu Emmanuel’s presence feels more like a narrative device than a fully realized person. This is one of the film’s weaker aspects.

Supporting Cast

The supporting ensemble includes college students and hostel mates who populate Bhooma’s world. While individually forgettable, they collectively create the campus atmosphere.

However, their reactions to toxic behavior—like recording harassment instead of intervening—feel frustratingly realistic and highlight larger societal issues.

Director Rahul Ravindran makes a brief cameo as an English professor delivering moral lectures, which feels slightly self-indulgent but doesn’t harm the narrative significantly.

Budget Breakdown & Financial Analysis

Production Budget: ₹42 Crores Total Investment

The Girlfriend was mounted on a substantial budget of ₹42 crores, unusual for a female-centric Telugu romantic drama without massive action sequences. Here’s the estimated breakdown:

Pre-Release Business & Revenue Streams

The producers structured multiple revenue streams before theatrical release:

Theatrical Rights: ₹18 crores

• Andhra Pradesh & Telangana: ₹14 crores
• Rest of India: ₹3 crores
• Overseas: ₹1 crore

Non-Theatrical Rights: ₹10 crores

• Netflix OTT Deal: ₹14 crores (4-week theatrical window)
• Satellite Rights: Negotiations ongoing
• Audio Rights (T-Series): ₹1.5 crores
• Hindi Dubbing Rights: ₹1 crore

Total Pre-Release Business: ₹28 crores

Break-Even Target: ₹45 crores (worldwide gross) Profit Threshold: ₹50+ crores

Financial Verdict: Struggling at Box Office

With only ₹10.2 crores collected in six days against a ₹42 crore budget, The Girlfriend needs a theatrical total of ₹18 crores just to recover production costs. Currently tracking at just 24% recovery, the film faces an uphill battle.

However, the strong Netflix deal (₹14 crores) provides a safety net. Including non-theatrical revenues, the producers have already recovered approximately ₹28 crores, meaning actual losses will be minimal even if theatrical performance remains weak.

Technical Analysis: Vision Vs Execution

Direction by Rahul Ravindran: Sincere But Inconsistent

Rahul Ravindran, known for his refreshing directorial style in Chi La Sow, tackles a more serious subject with The Girlfriend. His vision is clear—create an anti-thesis to films like Arjun Reddy that romanticize toxic masculinity. The intention is commendable, and several sequences showcase his directorial maturity.

What Works:

• The cramped bathroom metaphor (representing suffocating love)
• Mirror scene visual storytelling
• Interval point execution
• First half pacing
• Subtle visual cues throughout

What Doesn’t:

• One-dimensional character writing, especially male characters
• Second half loses momentum significantly
• Repetitive sequences that could’ve been trimmed
• Predictable trajectory once theme is established
• Heavy-handed messaging in places

Ravindran’s screenplay needed tighter writing. While the first half maintains decent engagement with clear conflict setup, the second half becomes sluggish with repetitive emotional beats. The climax, though emotionally satisfying, arrives predictably.

Music by Hesham Abdul Wahab: Pleasant But Forgettable

Hesham Abdul Wahab, who impressed with Hridayam and other Malayalam films, provides a melodious soundtrack with two primary songs:

“Em Jarugutondi” – A soft, introspective melody capturing Bhooma’s confusion “Nadive” – A more upbeat campus track

Both songs are pleasant auditory experiences with good instrumentation and vocals. However, they lack the emotional punch needed for key narrative moments. The songs remain situational rather than becoming chartbusters or emotional anchors for the story.

The background score integration could have been stronger. In a character-driven drama like this, music should elevate emotional peaks, but it often feels like it’s simply playing in the background.

Background Score by Prashanth R Vihari: The Real Winner

Where Hesham’s songs fall short, Prashanth R Vihari’s background score elevates The Girlfriend significantly. His score effectively amplifies tension in confrontation scenes and provides emotional depth during Bhooma’s internal struggles.

Key moments like the mirror scene and interval sequence derive much of their power from Vihari’s haunting background music. His work is subtle when needed and impactful during dramatic peaks—exactly what the film required.

Cinematography by Krishnan Vasant: Functional With Highlights

Krishnan Vasant’s camera work is mostly functional, capturing the story without unnecessary flourishes. However, certain sequences showcase creative visual thinking:

• The mirror scene composition deserves special mention
• Tight framing during confrontation scenes creates claustrophobia
• Color grading shifts subtly as Bhooma’s situation deteriorates
• Effective use of close-ups on Rashmika’s expressive eyes

The cinematography could have been more adventurous in establishing college campus vibrancy, but the grounded approach suits the film’s serious tone.

Editing by Chota K Prasad: Needed Sharper Scissors

At 150 minutes (2.5 hours), The Girlfriend feels longer than necessary. Editor Chota K Prasad could have trimmed at least 15-20 minutes from the second half without losing narrative impact.

Several emotional sequences repeat similar beats—Bhooma suffering, Vikram controlling, father misunderstanding. Tighter editing would have maintained pace and prevented the sluggishness that affects the latter portions.

The interval cut is excellently timed, though, leaving audiences with a strong hook for the second half.

Production Design: Adequate College Atmosphere

Production designers Ramakrishna & Monica create believable college and hostel environments, though they never feel distinctively memorable. The authenticity sometimes wavers—hostel rules seem non-existent, and the ease of cross-gender hostel visits strains credibility.

Set design for Bhooma’s father’s home and Vikram’s hostel room effectively convey character personalities through visual details.

Box Office Collection Report: Day-Wise Breakdown

The Girlfriend opened to mixed word-of-mouth and faced stiff competition from bigger releases. Here’s the detailed box office performance:

India Collections (Telugu)

Overseas Collections

Hindi Dubbed Performance: Disaster

The Hindi dubbed version released simultaneously but found virtually zero audience:

• 6-Day Hindi Total: ₹15 lakhs (nationwide)
• Pulled from most Hindi circuits by Day 4

Worldwide Box Office Summary

Hit or Flop: Financial Verdict

Theatrically, The Girlfriend is a clear disaster, recovering barely 27.5% of its theatrical break-even target. The film needed at least ₹45 crores worldwide gross to break even but will struggle to even reach ₹15 crores lifetime.

Why Did It Fail at Box Office?

1. Limited Appeal: Female-centric serious dramas have niche audiences in Telugu states
2. Timing: Released alongside bigger films with wider appeal
3. Theme: Toxic relationship subject matter isn’t mass-friendly
4. No Mass Elements: Zero commercial ingredients that Telugu audiences typically prefer
5. Mixed Reviews: Critical divide prevented strong word-of-mouth
6. Pacing Issues: Slow second half led to negative social media reactions

Netflix Lifesaver:

The ₹14 crore Netflix deal salvages the project financially. Including theatrical shares (₹6.5 Cr), OTT (₹14 Cr), and audio rights (₹1.5 Cr), producers have recovered approximately ₹22 crores against ₹28 crores pre-release investments.

Expected Netflix release: December 2025 (after 4-week theatrical window).

What Works: The Girlfriend’s Strengths

1. Rashmika Mandanna’s Powerhouse Performance

Every frame featuring Rashmika justifies your ticket price. Her portrayal of vulnerability, confusion, fear, and eventual empowerment is masterful. This isn’t conventional commercial cinema acting—it’s raw, unfiltered emotional work that puts her in awards conversation.

2. Relevant Social Message

In an industry that has long celebrated aggressive pursuit as romance (think Arjun Reddy), The Girlfriend boldly questions toxic masculinity.

The film doesn’t preach but shows the suffocating reality of controlling relationships. The mirror scene, where Bhooma sees herself becoming Vikram’s subjugated mother, is a powerful metaphor.

3. Dheekshith Shetty’s Brave Performance

Playing a detestable character requires guts, especially in your second major Telugu film. Dheekshith makes Vikram uncomfortably real—not a caricature villain but a recognizable toxic partner many have encountered.

4. Interval Bang

The interval point is excellently crafted, leaving audiences gasping. It’s the film’s highest moment, perfectly setting up Bhooma’s transformation.

5. Metaphorical Storytelling

Rahul Ravindran uses visual metaphors effectively:

• Cramped bathroom = suffocating relationship
• Mirror reflection = future projection
• Vikram’s mother’s silence = inherited trauma

6. Authentic Performances Throughout

Despite character writing issues, every actor commits fully to their roles. The authenticity in performances keeps you invested even when the screenplay falters.

7. Prashanth Vihari’s Background Score

The background music elevates several scenes beyond their written potential, adding emotional layers that dialogue alone couldn’t achieve.

8. Important Conversations Started

The Girlfriend has sparked vital discussions about consent, compatibility, and recognizing red flags in relationships. Several viewers, particularly young women, have shared how the film resonated with their experiences.

What Doesn’t Work: The Girlfriend’s Weaknesses

1. One-Dimensional Male Characters

Both Vikram and Bhooma’s father are written as cartoonishly toxic without nuance. Real toxic people don’t walk around announcing their toxicity—they rationalize their behavior. The film misses opportunities to show why these men behave this way, making them feel like plot devices rather than people.

Films like Lover (2022) handled similar themes with more dimensional characters, making their toxicity more insidious and recognizable.

2. Slow, Repetitive Second Half

After the interval bang, the film enters a repetitive loop: Bhooma suffers → tries to resist → gets shut down → suffers more. This cycle repeats with diminishing impact, testing audience patience. Tighter editing could have maintained momentum.

3. Unrealistic Campus Setting

For a film aiming at realism, the college environment feels disconnected from reality:

• Students freely enter opposite-gender hostels at night
• No hostel warden or security visible
• College takes no action despite obscene graffiti incident
• Authority figures are completely absent

This authenticity gap makes it harder to stay emotionally invested, especially for viewers familiar with actual college environments.

4. Rao Ramesh’s Character Arc

The father character is so abusive—calling his daughter “characterless,” insulting her with vulgar references to “hormones”—that his sudden emotional reconciliation in the climax feels unearned and jarring. Either show his journey toward understanding or commit to him being irredeemably flawed.

5. Predictable Trajectory

Once the film establishes its anti-toxic-masculinity theme around the 30-minute mark, the destination becomes obvious. We know Bhooma will eventually break free. The question is just how, and the film takes too long getting there.

6. Underutilized Anu Emmanuel

Harshitha could have been a strong parallel to Bhooma—a confident woman showing an alternative path. Instead, she’s reduced to a underdeveloped subplot that goes nowhere meaningful.

7. Age Appropriateness

Both leads look noticeably older than typical college students. While acting transcends this quickly, the initial visual disconnect is undeniable.

8. Heavy-Handed Messaging

The film sometimes shifts from “showing” to “telling.” Rahul Ravindran’s professor cameo delivering moral lectures is a prime example of unnecessary hand-holding. Trust your audience to understand the message.

9. Limited Mass Appeal

The Girlfriend is designed for a specific audience—primarily urban, educated viewers who appreciate artistic cinema. It lacks commercial elements like comedy tracks, item songs, or mass-hero elevation that typically ensure wider Telugu audience acceptance.

Comparison With Similar Films

The Girlfriend vs Arjun Reddy (2017)

The Girlfriend feels like a deliberate response to Arjun Reddy‘s problematic glorification of aggressive pursuit and possessive behavior.

The Girlfriend vs Lover (2022)

Lover handled similar themes with more dimensional characters, making it a more effective film overall despite lower visibility.

The Girlfriend vs Chi La Sow (2018)

Rahul Ravindran’s earlier directorial effort Chi La Sow was a breezy, charming romance that showed his understanding of relationships. The Girlfriend tackles darker terrain but lacks the nuanced writing that made Chi La Sow special.

Audience Reception & Critical Response

Critic Reviews Roundup

123Telugu: 2.75/5 – “Works in parts, largely because of Rashmika’s standout performance”

GreatAndhra: 2.5/5 – “Toxic Love – Effectively sheds light but one-dimensional portrayal”

IMDB User Rating: 8.3/10 (likely inflated by fans, not reflective of general consensus)

Baradwaj Rangan (Film Critic): “Well-intentioned film that is not as effective as it should be”

Galatta Plus: Mixed – “Heart in right place but characters too one-note”

Audience Divide

The Girlfriend has created a sharp divide:

Positive Camp (Mostly Urban Young Women):

• Appreciate the bold anti-toxic masculinity stance
• Relate to Bhooma’s suffocation in controlling relationship
• Praise Rashmika’s career-best performance
• Value the message over entertainment

Negative Camp (General Mass Audience):

• Find it preachy and slow
• Miss commercial entertainment elements
• Consider male characters unrealistically evil
• Feel alienated by artistic approach

Critical Camp (Film Enthusiasts):

• Appreciate intentions but criticize execution
• Compare unfavorably to better-handled films like Lover
• Point out writing inconsistencies
• Acknowledge Rashmika’s performance while critiquing screenplay

Social Media Reception

Twitter/X has been divided, with hashtags like #TheGirlfriend and #RashmikaMandanna trending on release day:

Positive tweets focus on:

• Rashmika’s acting prowess
• Relevance of toxic relationship theme
• Mirror scene and interval moments
• Needed counter-narrative to Arjun Reddy

Negative tweets highlight:

• Slow pace and dragging second half
• Unrealistic campus settings
• One-sided character portrayals
• Lack of entertainment value

Who Should Watch The Girlfriend?

MUST WATCH If You:

• Appreciate female-centric narratives
• Want to see Rashmika Mandanna’s finest performance
• Value socially relevant cinema over entertainment
• Enjoyed films like Thappad or Darlings
• Are interested in relationship dynamics and psychology
• Support counter-narratives to toxic masculinity glorification

SKIP If You:

• Prefer fast-paced commercial entertainers
• Want typical Telugu cinema mass elements
• Dislike slow-burn character dramas
• Need comedy tracks and item songs
• Are looking for weekend entertainment with family
• Get impatient with message-driven cinema

PROCEED WITH CAUTION If You:

• Prefer balanced character portrayals
• Enjoyed Chi La Sow and expect similar lightness
• Want nuanced exploration over direct messaging
• Are sensitive to depictions of emotional abuse
• Prefer tighter, crisper narratives

OTT Release & Second Life Potential

Expected Netflix Release: Mid-December 2025 (after 4-week theatrical window)

Why The Girlfriend Might Find Better Audience on OTT:

1. Home Viewing Comfort: Serious dramas often perform better on streaming platforms where viewers can pause, reflect, and watch at their own pace
2. Targeted Recommendations: Netflix’s algorithm can recommend it to viewers who appreciate female-centric narratives and social dramas
3. Global Telugu Diaspora: Overseas Telugu audiences who missed theatrical release can access it easily
4. Subtitles: English subtitles will open the film to non-Telugu speaking Indian audiences and international viewers interested in South Asian cinema
5. No Box Office Pressure: Without commercial expectations, the film can be judged purely on its content and performances
6. Cultural Conversations: Streaming platforms often trigger broader discussions on social media, potentially giving the film a second life
7. Award Season: If releasing before major awards, it could position Rashmika for Best Actress nominations

The ₹14 crore Netflix deal indicates strong platform confidence in the film’s content and Rashmika’s pull. Don’t be surprised if The Girlfriend finds its true audience post-theatrical release.

Final Verdict & Rating

The Girlfriend is a well-intentioned film elevated by Rashmika Mandanna’s exceptional performance but held back by one-dimensional writing and sluggish pacing. Rahul Ravindran’s heart is clearly in the right place—he wants to challenge Telugu cinema’s problematic romanticization of toxic masculinity. The message is vital and timely.

However, good intentions don’t automatically translate to great cinema. The film’s biggest weakness is reducing complex human behavior to black-and-white caricatures.

Real toxic people are far more insidious—they don’t announce their toxicity but rationalize it convincingly. By making Vikram and Bhooma’s father so overtly terrible, the film loses the opportunity for audiences (especially men) to see themselves in these patterns and introspect.

That said, Rashmika’s performance alone justifies watching this film. She proves she’s not just a commercial heroine but a serious actor capable of carrying heavy emotional material. The mirror scene, interval sequence, and her wordless interaction with Rohini are worth the price of admission.

Our Rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

Bottom Line: A relevant social drama with career-best Rashmika Mandanna performance, but one-dimensional characters and slow pacing prevent it from being the masterpiece it could have been. Worth watching for the performances and message, but don’t expect entertainment in the conventional sense.

Should You Watch in Theaters?

Theatrical Experience: 2.5/5 – Better suited for OTT Rashmika’s Performance: 4.5/5 – Career-defining Social Relevance: 4/5 – Important conversations Entertainment Value: 2/5 – Slow and preachy Overall Value: 3/5 – Worthwhile but flawed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Girlfriend based on a true story?

No, it’s a fictional narrative written and directed by Rahul Ravindran exploring toxic relationships and female emancipation.

What is the budget of The Girlfriend movie?

The total budget is ₹42 crores, including production costs of ₹35 crores and marketing expenses of ₹7 crores.

Is The Girlfriend hit or flop?

Box office verdict: DISASTER. The film collected only ₹11.6 crores worldwide against a ₹45 crore break-even target. However, the ₹14 crore Netflix deal minimizes producer losses.

When will The Girlfriend release on Netflix?

Expected release: Mid-December 2025, after completing its 4-week theatrical window.

Is The Girlfriend suitable for family viewing?

It has a UA certificate but deals with mature themes like toxic relationships, emotional abuse, and controlling behavior. Suitable for teenagers and adults, but may be uncomfortable for family viewing.

Q6: How is Rashmika Mandanna’s performance? Universally praised as her career-best performance. Her portrayal of Bhooma is nuanced, emotional, and powerful.

Is The Girlfriend related to Arjun Reddy?

Not directly, but thematically it serves as an anti-thesis to Arjun Reddy‘s glorification of toxic masculinity.

What is the runtime of The Girlfriend?

2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes). Could have been trimmed by 15-20 minutes.

Conclusion

The Girlfriend delivers an emotionally charged narrative that explores possessiveness, insecurity, and the darker sides of modern relationships.

While the film’s pacing may feel slow at times, its strong performances—especially by the lead actors—keep the story engaging. The direction effectively highlights the tension and psychological depth between the characters, making the drama feel raw and relatable.

Though not a conventional romantic film, The Girlfriend stands out for its bold approach and honest portrayal of toxic dynamics. Viewers who appreciate intense relationship dramas will find this movie thought-provoking and worth watching.