At 'Kuberaa' Song Launch Event, Rashmika Mandanna Said – “I Shot for 6 Hours Amidst Garbage Heaps”

At the grand launch event of the song ‘Pippi Pippi Dum Dum Dum’ held in Mumbai on June 10, stars of the Pan-India film ‘Kuberaa’ — Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna, Nagarjuna, Jim Sarbh, and Dalip Tahil — were seen together for the first time. The entire star cast of the film was present at this special occasion. Directed and co-written by Sekhar Kammula, Kuberaa is a social thriller.

At the event, actress Rashmika Mandanna appeared in an elegant Indian avatar, wearing a white salwar suit and looking beautiful. Dhanush styled a white shirt with a grey pant-coat combo, while veteran actor Nagarjuna wore a blue shirt with a white pant-suit.

“I’ve Never Played a Role Like This Before” – Rashmika

During the event, Rashmika shared her experience working on the film. Talking about her character, she said, “Sometimes you have to become Geetanjali (her role in Animal), sometimes Srivalli (from Pushpa), and now this character. Honestly, I’ve never done a role like this before. I completely surrendered to the director — that’s the beauty of it. Every director has their own style, and that’s why I get to portray such interesting and diverse characters. I’ll always be grateful for that.”

She also opened up about the new song and said, “Usually, heartbreak songs showcase a boy’s pain, but this one is from a girl’s perspective. It’s emotional but presented in a fun way.”

“Shot for 6 Hours Amidst Garbage Heaps”

Talking about the most challenging moment during filming, Rashmika said, “As an actor, one of the most memorable experiences was shooting for six hours in a dump yard. It really connects you to your roots — a total eye-opener. Sekhar sir loves shooting at real locations. He’d run around with the camera himself to take shots. We couldn't even look at the monitor, but what he’s created will be a masterpiece.”

Rashmika Praises Nagarjuna and Dhanush

Rashmika also praised her co-stars Nagarjuna and Dhanush. This is her second film with Nagarjuna.
She said, “I absolutely love working with Nagarjuna sir. This is my second project with him. He performs so effortlessly that it surprises me. He watched the film and praised my character — that was a very special moment for me.” Speaking about Dhanush, she added, “Dhanush sir does everything with such ease. He is the real ‘Kuberaa’. Even to become 10% like him, we have to work really hard.”

When Asked About Being Called ‘Number One Actress’

When asked by the media about the pressure of being called the ‘number one actress’, Rashmika responded, “I feel like I’ve just started. I don’t even understand this ‘number one’ pressure. I just know that I’m in the learning phase. I’m working in the South, Bollywood — everywhere — and I still have so much to learn.”

Nagarjuna Praises Rashmika and Jim Sarbh

At the event, superstar Nagarjuna heaped praise on his co-star Rashmika Mandanna, calling her a “powerhouse of talent.” He said, “Have you seen her filmography in the last few years? It’s truly incredible. None of us are 2000–3000 crore stars, but this girl has outshined all of us.”

He also appreciated Jim Sarbh, saying, “My God, this man is impossible. He kept me on my toes and was speaking Telugu better than me. He’s just incredible.”

When asked about his youthful and ageless look, Nagarjuna responded with humor, “It’s just a joke, don’t take it seriously. What happened is — everyone around me aged, and I just stayed the same.” This light-hearted remark brought laughter from the audience.

Dhanush Addressed the Crowd in Tamil

At the launch, Dhanush addressed his fans in Tamil and said, “I don’t know Hindi.” He added, “Kuberaa’ is a very, very different and special film. It’s not just another movie or event. It’s very close to my heart, and I’m sure my co-stars will agree with me. Our shooting experience was fantastic — and strange at times! We shot in dump yards and garbage trucks. But every experience teaches you something. We were happy to work with such a positive and brilliant team. I usually don’t step out for promotions, but this film deserves it.”

Dhanush on His Role in the Film

Dhanush spoke about his character, saying, “I play a beggar in the film. I did a lot of research, stood in the sun... all lies! (laughs). I didn’t do any of that! I just followed my director. Sekhar sir is brilliant. He taught me the nuances and slang. He made everything so easy. This character is very different from anything I’ve done before — that’s what I loved about the challenge.”

A Funny Anecdote from the Shoot

Dhanush also shared a funny incident: “Rashmika and I shot in a dump yard for about 6–7 hours. But she was totally fine with it. She told me, ‘I can’t smell anything!’ Rashmika couldn’t stop laughing at this revelation.

Dhanush added, “I read somewhere that shooting that scene was a huge challenge and that we were wearing masks. That’s not true. It really wasn’t that big a deal.”

About the Film

‘Kuberaa’ is produced by Suniel Narang and Pushkur Rammohan Rao under the Amigos Creations banner. The film features music by Devi Sri Prasad, cinematography by Niketh Bommireddy, editing by Karthik Srinivas, and production design by Thota Tharani. Shot simultaneously in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi, ‘Kuberaa’ is set for a worldwide theatrical release on June 20, 2025.

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