Veteran Telugu actor Nagarjuna Akkineni lauded his Kuberaa co-star Rashmika Mandanna during a promotional event. At the Mumbai launch of the film’s third single, Pippi Pippi Dum Dum Dum, on June 10, 2025, Nagarjuna hailed Rashmika’s box office dominance and on-screen brilliance. The event took place in Mumbai, drawing attention from fans and media across India. The praise came during the Kuberaa music launch, ahead of the film’s theatrical release on June 20, 2025. Nagarjuna highlighted Rashmika’s ₹2000–3000 crore film successes, calling her a standout star who has “beaten all of us,” sparking viral reactions on social media.
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Nagarjuna’s Heartfelt Praise
At the star-studded Mumbai event for Kuberaa, a socio-political drama directed by Sekhar Kammula, Nagarjuna Akkineni stole the spotlight with his candid admiration for Rashmika Mandanna. Addressing the media, he declared, “This girl is one powerhouse of talent! If you see her filmography in the last three years, it’s just outstanding. None of us have ₹2000–3000 crore films, but she does.
She’s the one who’s beaten all of us!” His playful yet sincere remarks, delivered with a smile, left Rashmika blushing and the crowd cheering. He further praised her spontaneity and comedic timing in Kuberaa, revealing he called her directly from the dubbing theater to commend her performance, saying, “She’s brilliant in the film. She’s going to make all of you laugh so much.”
Rashmika’s Humble Response
Rashmika, often dubbed India’s “National Crush,” responded with characteristic humility. When hailed as the “number one” actress, she laughed, saying, “Ma’am, the way you’re saying it, I’m feeling a lot of pressure. I know for sure that I have just started.” She expressed uncertainty about the “race” to be number one, emphasizing her focus on her journey across Hindi and South Indian cinema. Her recent hits, including Pushpa: The Rise (₹360 crore), Animal (₹900 crore), Chhaava (₹400 crore), and Pushpa 2 (projected ₹1500 crore+), underscore her box office prowess, which Nagarjuna highlighted.
A History of Collaboration
This isn’t the first time Nagarjuna has praised Rashmika. During the 2018 Devadas audio launch, he recounted a flight from Thailand where Rashmika’s humor kept him entertained for three hours, even playfully acting as his “bodyguard” against unruly passengers. Their camaraderie shone again in Kuberaa, where Rashmika plays a woman craving more than her middle-class life, alongside Dhanush’s rags-to-riches mafia leader and Nagarjuna’s complex character. Nagarjuna noted their past collaboration, saying, “It was a pleasure working with you before, but this time, your dubbing blew me away.” The film, also starring Jim Sarbh and Dalip Tahil, explores ambition and morality, with Devi Sri Prasad’s music adding vibrancy.
Event Highlights and Fan Buzz
The Mumbai event, attended by Dhanush, Rashmika, and Nagarjuna, was filled with light-hearted moments. Rashmika’s gesture of sitting near Nagarjuna’s feet during a Chennai promotional event earlier reflected her respect, endearing her to fans. A viral video captured the trio laughing together, with fans on X dropping heart emojis and comments like, “Crushmika cuteness overloaded.” Nagarjuna also praised Jim Sarbh’s Telugu dialogue delivery and thanked North Indian audiences for embracing his films like Shiva and Khuda Gawah. The event underscored Kuberaa’s pan-Indian appeal, set for release in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Nagarjuna’s effusive praise for Rashmika Mandanna at the Kuberaa event highlights her meteoric rise as a pan-Indian star. Her ability to deliver blockbusters across industries, combined with her grounded response, cements her as a beloved figure. As Kuberaa gears up for its June 20, 2025, release, followed by an Amazon Prime Video debut, fans eagerly await Rashmika’s next stellar performance.
-By Manoj H