Rashmika Vs Rahul Remuneration: Who Earned More For The Girlfriend?

Rashmika Vs Rahul Remuneration: Tollywood’s new romantic thriller project The Girlfriend is not just in the limelight for its storyline but also the behind-the-scenes happenings. It is one of the rare cases of pay parity where the scales were tipped towards the female lead. In a recent interview, Rahul Ravindran, who wrote, directed, and starred in the film, revealed that Rashmika Mandanna made more than he did, opening up a healthy debate in the Tollywood about how remuneration are affected by market dynamics and star power.

Remuneration Comparison: The Girlfriend (2025)

Rashmika Mandanna

Rumored Fee: ₹3.5–4 crore
Presumed Cause for Fee Surge?

Rashmika is the face of the film and its biggest USP.

A recent Murderbox of a few blockbusters, Animal, Pushpa and Tillu Square has raised her market stature tremendously.

Rashmika is actively involved in promoting campaigns and brand collaborations directly linked to The Girlfriend.

Rahul Ravindran

Rumored Fee: ₹75 lakh-1 crore
Typesetting: Supporting or Secondary Lead
Market Position: Rahul is respected as an actor and filmmaker (Chi La Sow, Manmadhudu 2), but for Ian-Who-Acted-His-Fee-Is-Still-A-Ridge, he is inadequate compare to other peers.

Why the Big Discrepancy in Payment Makes Sense

The Girlfriend is marketed as a woman-centric thriller; therefore, Rashmika’s name and face will be tied to all of these commercial assets. Her Pan-India fame, brand endorsements, and box office track record justify a higher pay. Undoubtedly, Rahul adds vibrant value to the film’s creative vision, but his acting could not be sold as the main attraction to the audiences.

Also Read: Are Rashmika Vijay Doing Film Together? Here’s What She Said

Breaking Preconceived Notions of Pay in Telugu Cinema

Rahul’s frankness about the differences in their pay was rather appreciated by fans and peers alike. His statement indicates that the industry is going through a healthy change in the direction where remuneration is driven by talent, appeal to audiences, and market relevance rather than gender. With The Girlfriend, Rashmika Mandanna is not just heading a gripping thriller. But is an emblem for the progressive change in pay culture in the film industry.