Mumbai, Maharashtra | July 30, 2025: Veteran actress Indira Krishnan, known for her impactful roles in films like Tere Naam and Holiday, and her widespread fame from television shows such as Krishnaben Khakhrawala and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, recently shared her experience working with Rashmika Mandanna on the blockbuster film Animal. Krishnan, who portrayed Rashmika’s mother in the action-drama, revealed that the South Indian actress initially faced challenges with Hindi dialogues but managed to overcome them with grace.
In an interview, Indira Krishnan opened up about her co-stars in Animal, offering high praise for both Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika. “Ranbir aur Rashmika dono hi bahut hi pyaare hain. Ranbir ko toh main full points doongi, maine unke saath Animal mein bhi interact kiya tha, thoda kam, lekin Ramayana mein hamari interaction kaafi zyada hui. Rashmika bahut sweet hai, bahut down-to-earth ladki hai, bahut genuine. Jo wo hai, wo uske face pe clearly dikh jaata hai,” she said, translating to: “Ranbir and Rashmika are both very lovely. I would give Ranbir full points—I interacted with him a bit during Animal, but we had much more interaction during Ramayana. Rashmika is very sweet, very down-to-earth, and truly genuine. Who she is can be clearly seen on her face.”
Krishnan further elaborated on Rashmika’s character and dedication. “She’s that type of person. Hum log universe, manifestation wagairah ke baare mein baatein karte the—Ranbir aur main, Rashmika bhi actively baat karti thi. Kahin na kahin, wo ladki bahut positive hai, aur bahut kuch seekhna chahti hai. Kabhi-kabhi Hindi mein struggle karti thi Animal ke time pe, but she did it very beautifully,” she added, meaning: “Ranbir and I used to talk about the universe, manifestation, and such things—Rashmika too, she actively took part in those conversations. In many ways, she’s a very positive girl and wants to learn a lot. During Animal, she would sometimes struggle with Hindi, but she managed it beautifully.”
About ‘Animal’: Animal is a 2023 Hindi-language action drama, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, acclaimed for his previous works Kabir Singh and Arjun Reddy. The film starred Ranbir Kapoor in a raw and intense new avatar, exploring the complex and often strained relationship between a father and son, set against a backdrop of extreme violence and emotional conflict. Anil Kapoor played the emotionally distant father, with Rashmika Mandanna as his wife Geetanjali, and Triptii Dimri in a pivotal role.
Despite generating considerable debate over its portrayal of violence and themes of toxic masculinity, Animal was a phenomenal box office success, grossing over ₹900 crore globally. A sequel, titled Animal Park, has already been announced, with Ranbir Kapoor confirmed to reprise his role. Filming for the sequel is yet to commence.
Meanwhile, Indira Krishnan herself is set to appear in Nitesh Tiwari’s highly anticipated mythological epic, Ramayana. The star-studded film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, among others in key roles. Produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana is planned for a two-part release, with one part scheduled for Diwali 2026 and the other for Diwali 2027.