Actor Rashmika Mandanna has once again captured attention online after a clip from her recent campus interaction went viral – in which she candidly declared, “I’ll marry Vijay”, referring to actor Vijay Deverakonda. The remark comes amid widespread reports that the two stars got engaged recently and are planning a wedding in February 2026. 

Engagement rumours and relationship buzz

For weeks, speculation has been rife about Rashmika and Vijay’s engagement, with fans spotting both actors wearing rings and appearing together at multiple events. While the couple has not issued an official statement, Vijay’s team confirmed to Hindustan Times that the two are indeed engaged and planning to tie the knot next year.

A source cited by the publication also claimed that Rashmika recently visited Udaipur to explore potential wedding venues for what is being described as a “grand celebration.” Despite the buzz, the couple has remained tight-lipped, though Rashmika has been seen flaunting her engagement ring in several public appearances and social media clips.

Rashmika opens up about love and relationships

During her promotional appearance at Honest Townhall for her latest Telugu film ‘The Girlfriend’, Rashmika was asked about her idea of love and what qualities she seeks in a life partner.

She said, “My type is honestly someone who is capable of understanding at a deep level. I am not talking in the generic sense. It is an understanding of life from his own perspective. How does he perceive certain situations? I want someone who is open to understanding. Someone who is genuinely nice and someone who can fight a war with me, or for me. If there is war against me tomorrow, I know that man will fight with me. I will do the same. I will take a bullet for him any day. That is my kind of person.”

When a fan asked her whom she would “date, marry or kill” among the actors she has worked with, the actress replied that she would date Naruto – the anime character – and marry Vijay Deverakonda, drawing loud cheers from the audience. The light-hearted response has since gone viral, further fuelling excitement among fans who have long admired their off-screen chemistry.

Anime love and fan-favourite couple

Rashmika, known for her fondness for anime, also revealed her deep admiration for ‘Naruto: Shippuden’, saying, “I only watch anime! It is so crazy. I grew up watching Naruto: Shippuden. It’s got like some 600 episodes and I’ve finished all of them. Sasuke and all, bro like swag bro. But anime is my comfort zone.” She also named ‘Demon Slayer’, ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’, ‘Wind Breaker’ and ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ among her favourite shows.

Interestingly, in earlier interviews, Rashmika had joked about being “married to Naruto,” but this time, post-engagement, she has made it clear who holds that place in real life. Fans have since flooded social media with celebratory messages and admiration for the star couple, who first worked together in ‘Geetha Govindam’ (2018) and later in ‘Dear Comrade’ (2019).

Focus on ‘The Girlfriend’ and upcoming projects

Amid the attention on her personal life, Rashmika also spoke about her new film ‘The Girlfriend’, which released on Friday. “The reason why I said yes to Girlfriend is because I felt this is a very important story to tell and a very thought-provoking film. This film is like a warm hug. Everyone will be able to relate to this at some point in their life,” she said.

She added, “I feel it takes a lot of guts to tell a story like this. Luckily, I have had a great career, and I am using all my success and visibility for a film like this. I want to do this film for me as an actor and as a human being. You have to do something so meaningful that you can give back to your audience. I hope that this film will change at least one person. Then our job is done.”