The Girlfriend Director Slams 'PR Stunt' Accusations, Reveals the Truth Behind Viral Video
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Rahul Ravindran, the director of the romantic drama The Girlfriend, starring Rashmika Mandanna and Dheekshith Shetty, has responded to allegations that a viral video of a young girl recreating a scene from the film was staged. The video, which shows the girl removing her dupatta after a screening like Rashmika's character in the film, sparked speculation that it was a publicity stunt. In a lengthy note on X, Ravindran clarified that the moment was spontaneous and not planned. He revealed that the film's crew was not aware of who was attending the screening and had not invited the girl for any promotional activities. Ravindran also shared a video on Instagram, where he had connected the girl with Rashmika, who praised her for her appreciation. The director expressed his initial reluctance to post the video due to concerns about social media backlash. However, Ravindran used the opportunity to shed light on societal biases and the double standards applied to women. He questioned why women are expected to preserve a certain culture while men are allowed to express themselves freely. He pointed out the hypocrisy of people who get triggered by a girl removing her dupatta but not by men taking off their shirts in various situations. The film, which released on November 7, has received a mixed response from critics but a largely positive response from audiences. It has collected over ₹18 crore worldwide so far. The Girlfriend follows the story of Bhooma Devi, a postgraduate student who is gaslighted into a toxic relationship with her college heartthrob. The film also stars Anu Emmanuel and Rao Ramesh in key roles.
