BIFFes 2026: Rahul Ravindran on how ‘The Girlfriend’ is an antithesis to glorified male archetypes

AAt the Masterclass session of the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival, actor-director Rahul Ravindran offered a thoughtful account of his filmmaking process, drawing extensively from his latest directorial venture, The Girlfriend. Moderated by senior journalist Latha Srinivasan, the discussion explored casting choices, narrative perspective, writing discipline, and the ethical responsibilities of a filmmaker.

Explaining why he chose Rashmika Mandanna for the role of Bhoomi, Rahul said he was looking for an actor capable of expressing emotional complexity through silence.

“The biggest burden in toxic relationships is silence and gaslighting,” he noted. “I wanted an actor who could communicate inner conflict through the eyes.” Describing Rashmika as “luminous” and “incredible,” he said her expressive gaze — which he fondly called “headlight eyes” — perfectly suited the character. He added that he hoped her performance would be widely recognized and open doors to more challenging roles.

Responding to a question on presenting the story from a female perspective, Rahul observed that recent Indian films have increasingly glorified male archetypes such as the Devadas or the self-pitying ‘soup boy’. “These characters are often romanticised,” he said.

“I wanted to shift the gaze and present the woman’s perspective.” The seed of The Girlfriend, he revealed, originated from a college experience that left a deep impression on him. Although the male character Vikram was the first to take shape in his mind, the story took nearly three to four years to fully form. At one point, Rahul admitted, he questioned whether the narrative would still be relevant. “After the release, I realised how relatable it remained,” he said.

On casting Dheekshith Shetty as the male lead, Rahul explained that he deliberately avoided established stars from Telugu cinema. “An outsider comes without baggage,” he said. “There is less pressure from industry expectations.” He added that he pays close attention to an actor’s eyes during casting, recalling that he discovered Shetty during an interview around the time of Dasara and found the sharpness he was seeking.

Discussing the opening scene of The Girlfriend, in which Bhoomi is seen carrying a suitcase, Rahul said the visual was meant to convey inner resistance and emotional suppression. “When you are unable to express your thoughts openly, the conflict happens within,” he explained. Emphasising his preference for visual storytelling, he said he allows actors flexibility in performance as long as it aligns with his overall vision.

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Rahul pointed out empathy as the most important quality a filmmaker should possess. “A film set should be calm and peaceful,” he said, recalling difficult experiences on sets where hierarchy dictated behaviour. “Everyone deserves equal respect.” According to him, empathy and values are as essential as technical skill in filmmaking

Reflecting on his early career, Rahul admitted that a few unsuccessful films led him to introspection. This process shaped his current writing method, which begins with visualisation before dialogue. He revealed that The Girlfriend was written in just 12 days, aided by clear mental imagery that helped separate scenes requiring dialogue from those that relied purely on visuals.

A strong advocate of bound scripts, Rahul described them as crucial for efficiency. His first draft, he added, serves as a blueprint, while later drafts focus on time reads, scene elimination, and budget alignment. This discipline proved vital for projects such as his Telugu debut, directed on a modest budget of ₹2.5 crore, despite rising production costs.

Concluding the session, Rahul advised aspiring filmmakers to “direct the film on paper first.” Cinema, he reminded, is an expensive art form, and careful planning ensures that time, money, and effort are not wasted.