This weekend, gear up for one of the biggest Indian films of the year as acclaimed director Sandeep Reddy Vanga (Arjun Reddy; Kabir Singh) gears up to debut his long-awaited action-thriller Animal, which stars Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor (Brahmāstra: Part One - Shiva; Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar) in the leading role as Arjun Singh, a man who sets out to exact vengeance against his rival to protect his family for generations to come, an effort that ultimately leads to a brutal gang war and leaves the lives of everyone involved changed forever.
The film's synopsis reads, "This is the story of a son whose love for his father knows no bounds. As their bond begins to fracture, a chain of extraordinary events unfolds causing the son to undergo a remarkable transformation consumed by a thirst for vengeance."
Ahead of its highly anticipated launch this Friday, we were able to catch up with the film's leading lady and rising star Rashmika Mandanna (Mission Majnu; Pushpa: The Rise), who currently boasts nearly 40 million followers on Instagram, to talk about her pivotal role in the film as Arjun's wife Geetanjali, and her intense dynamic opposite Ranbir Kapoor. She also teases some of what to expect from this new film, why this is her most intense film to date, and her recent experience working with Shah Rukh Khan on a separate project.
In addition to Kapoor and Mandanna, the film stars Hindi film veterans Anil Kapoor (Slumdog Millionaire; Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol) and Bobby Deol (Gupt; Soldier).
Animal releases worldwide on December 1!
Keep scrolling to read our full interview with Rashmika Mandanna below and please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel at the link below for more exclusive content!
ROHAN: When you were first approached for the role, what initially interested you about playing Geetanjali? Did you find her relatable or was she a completely new kind of character for you?
RASHMIKA: I’d like to say that it was a very real approach to a new character for me. For me, I've wanted to work with Sandeep sir and Ranbir, so the excitement came with, 'Okay, so what is expected of me and how can I do the unexpected with what is expected of me?' Geetanjali is a woman portrayed really and truly from a man's perspective, I think.
ROHAN: What was your experience working opposite Ranbir Kapoor for the first time and witnessing his transformation into his character?
RASHMIKA: Ranbir is a gifted actor for sure, and years of hard work shaping himself to be the best actor he can is truly admirable. I've learned to be the best actor myself from him and Sandeep, and I am super glad for that!
ROHAN: What can you tease about your character's dynamic with Ranbir's? What kind of relationship do they have, and how does it inform his decisions throughout the movie?
RASHMIKA: There are many perspectives out there for this question, but in my perspective, I think it's the most real form of love and understanding, and love without much of the sugar coating that we normally do in cinematic liberty. There are, of course, a lot of other perspectives out there that I look forward to learning.
ROHAN: Animal looks like it's going to be a very intense film, but there's also plenty of romance. As a performer, which scenes do you find more challenging? The dramatic sequences or the romantic ones?
RASHMIKA: We actors are just tools to bring the characters written by the storytellers to life, and the most challenging part would be feeling the emotions of the imaginary characters and living and portraying them. That's the hardest thing to do.
ROHAN: What are you most excited for audiences to see in Animal when it hits theaters on December 1? Or what is the message you're hoping they take away from it?
RASHMIKA: The lives of each character because, for me, I think Animal is a story of different complex characters coming together in a film. It's like having multiple movies shot in one cinema.
ROHAN: You were able to work with the legendary Shah Rukh Khan earlier this year on an ad. What was your experience working with him? What did you learn from him?
RASHMIKA: It was too short of a duration to say what I've learned from Sir as I've shot with him for an ad film, but I am grateful to have gotten the opportunity. I look forward to working with him on a movie hopefully one day, but I understand after working with him why Shah Rukh Khan is indeed Shah Rukh Khan!
ROHAN: After Animal, you have the highly anticipated Pushpa 2 on the way. What can you tease about that film? What should fans look forward to?
RASHMIKA: For now, all I'd like to say about Pushpa 2 is that it's only getting better. It's crazier, bigger, and everything we'd want in a commercial blockbuster.
Animal hits theaters worldwide on December 1!