'Srivalli 2.0': Rashmika Mandanna discusses her character in 'Pushpa 2'
Fresh off the success of Animal, Rashmika Mandanna is set to reprise her role as Srivalli in the highly-anticipated sequel to the 2021 blockbuster, Pushpa: The Rise. The forthcoming film, titled Pushpa 2: The Rule, will present an evolved version of Srivalli. In a recent interview with Lifestyle Asia India, Mandanna shared insights into her journey portraying Srivalli and discussed the character's development since the first movie.
Mandanna discussed the challenges of portraying Srivalli
Mandanna confessed that playing Srivalli—Pushpa Raj's wife—was both challenging and exciting due to the unpredictability of the role. She stated, "I didn't really know my character Srivalli in Pushpa because I didn't know the story, I didn't know her as a character, I didn't know how to play her, I didn't know the world we were creating. I didn't know anything." "So, every day on set felt like visiting a playground."
'Srivalli in 'Pushpa 2' is someone super sorted': Mandanna
In the sequel, Mandanna feels more acquainted with her character and the world she inhabits. While she refrained from revealing too much about her role in the sequel, she hinted at Srivalli being more composed and self-assured. "Srivalli in Pushpa 2 is someone super sorted. Now I know the world that we are living in, I know the character I'm playing, and now it's Srivalli 2.0," Mandanna elaborated.
First glimpse of Mandanna as Srivalli sent waves of excitement
Fans were recently treated to the first look at Mandanna as Srivalli on the actor's 28th birthday. The actor was seen dressed in a traditional silk saree, complemented by gold jewelry and sindoor (a traditional red or orange-red colored powder used by married Hindu women). Alongside this, a teaser featuring Allu Arjun's fresh look was also unveiled on his birthday on April 8, further heightening the anticipation for the sequel.
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'Pushpa 2' set for global multilingual release on August 15
Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2 is slated for a global multilingual release on August 15, tentatively going head-to-head with Rohit Shetty's much-awaited Singham Again. Pushpa 2 will be available in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. Meanwhile, in addition to Pushpa 2, Mandanna has a lineup of other projects including The Girlfriend, Rainbow, and the Hindi film Chhaava where she will be sharing screen space with Vicky Kaushal. The lattermost is slated for a December 6 release.
