Newlywed Rashmika Mandanna is once again in the spotlight after an old interview clip involving her mother resurfaced online. The viral audio, which talks about her past relationship with Rakshit Shetty, has triggered a fresh debate on social media. While the actor has issued a strong statement warning of legal action, netizens have questioned why she stayed silent for years after the breakup.
The clip is believed to be from an interview given by Rashmika’s mother Suman Mandanna to senior film journalist Mahesh Devishetty, as reported by OneIndia. In the conversation, Suman spoke about tensions between the two families during the time when Rashmika and Rakshit were engaged.
According to her, the family had accepted the relationship even though Rashmika was very young at the time. However, she claimed that disagreements started during the engagement period and slowly turned into serious arguments between both families.
Rashmika Mandanna controversy grows after old interview clip goes viral
In the viral audio, Suman Mandanna alleged that Rakshit sometimes created scenes over small matters and tried to influence Rashmika’s career decisions. She also claimed that when Rashmika got the offer for Geetha Govindam, there was pressure on her to post on social media that she would quit acting.
She also described an incident that she called very disturbing. According to her, the night before the release of Geetha Govindam, Rashmika allegedly received a late-night call asking her to travel immediately from Hyderabad to Bengaluru to meet Rakshit.
Part of the interview includes Suman speaking emotionally in Kannada. As per OneIndia, she said, “They said this girl is not thinking properly. Even after knowing the situation, you still sent her there. Then they came and created a scene with me. At that time, instead of saying ‘Aunty, don’t worry, I am with you,’ he argued with me. His final condition was that Rashmika should tweet saying she would leave acting after marriage.”
She further added, “What mistake did my young daughter make? The elders started calling. His mother said my daughter’s mother must come and apologise. Why should I apologise without any reason? I have helped many people in my life…good that they broke up.”
After the clip went viral, many social media users started reacting strongly. Some questioned why Rashmika never spoke openly about the breakup earlier.
One Reddit user wrote, “He is mentally unstable, but Rashmika failed to convey this to the world when relationship broke.”
Another commented, “Fact she should have opened her mouth years ago her silence made things even worse and the another one got all the sympathy.”
A third user defended her and said, “A girl opening her mouth comes with consequences. Not everyone wants to face them.”
One more user wrote, “Aishwarya spoke against Salman, but what happened? She got replaced and even today memes are made about her and Salman and they don’t even spare her daughter.”
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Another fan added, “I am happy that in a life full of Anacondas, she got Vijay Deverakonda.”
Rashmika Mandanna Issues Legal Warning, Asks People To Stop Sharing Clip
After the audio started circulating widely, Rashmika Mandanna released a long statement on X (formerly Twitter). She said the clip was being shared without consent and taken out of context to create controversy.
The statement read, “To my dearest people who have been with me through this incredible journey so far. And to others concerned with this matter – It has been 8 years since a sustained campaign of misinformation, harassment, and targeted attacks from a section of the media and individuals online had started against me. I have watched as my words have been taken out of context, as words I never uttered were spun into false narratives, and hate has been amplified for the sake of views, reach, and engagement.”
She added, “All this while, while it pained me and hurt me, I chose patience and silence. I accepted that being in the public eye sometimes comes with unfair criticism, but as long as I remain true to myself and happy, spreading joy around me, things will fall into place. However, what has happened in the last 24 hours crosses a line that can’t be ignored.”
Rashmika also claimed the audio was from a private conversation recorded years ago and was now being shared deliberately. She said, “An old private conversation, believed to be from nearly eight years ago, appears to have been recorded and circulated without the knowledge or consent of those involved. A small portion of that conversation has now been deliberately taken out of context and circulated widely to create yet another discomforting controversy- strategically coinciding with recent developments in my personal life,” she said.
The actor warned of legal action and wrote, “I request all media platforms, influencers and individuals who are circulating this content or related narratives to remove them immediately. You have 24 hours from the time of this statement to do so. Failing this, starting tomorrow, appropriate legal action will be initiated – including the issuance of legal notices to individuals, influencers, digital platforms, or media organisations involved in the continued circulation of defamatory or privacy-violating content, in accordance with applicable law. This step is not taken lightly, but it has become necessary.”
She also urged people to respect privacy and stop spreading the clip, saying she chose silence for years but will not allow others to be dragged into controversy now.
