Rashmika Mandanna Takes No. 1 Spot in National Popularity Poll, Deepika Padukone Slips to Second
Rashmika Mandanna has reached a new milestone in her career after emerging as the most popular Indian actress in a recently reported Mood of the Nation poll. The actor has moved ahead of Bollywood star Deepika Padukone, who had held the top position in the survey for the previous four years.
The result marks another significant step in Rashmika's journey from regional cinema to becoming one of the most recognised female stars across the country. Her growing presence in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films has helped establish her as a pan-India performer, and the latest poll result adds another measure of her expanding popularity.
Rashmika Moves Ahead of Deepika
According to the survey cited by Samayam Telugu, Rashmika secured the first position among India's most popular actresses, while Deepika Padukone finished second. The development has attracted considerable attention because Deepika had remained at the top of the same poll for four consecutive years.
Rashmika's rise reflects the increasing nationwide recognition she has received following a series of successful films across multiple languages. Her career has increasingly moved beyond the boundaries of the Telugu film industry, giving her a much wider audience.
The actress, who is popularly known as the "National Crush," has now been described as a new national star following the survey result.
A Career Built Across Multiple Industries
Rashmika began her film career with the Kannada movie Kirik Party before entering Telugu cinema with Chalo. She subsequently became one of the leading actresses in Telugu films, working alongside several major stars.
Her career later expanded into Hindi cinema as well. Rather than limiting herself to conventional commercial roles, Rashmika has also taken on projects that place greater emphasis on her individual character and performance.
The combination of films in different languages has played an important role in building her pan-India appeal. Her recent filmography includes titles such as Pushpa 2: The Rule, Animal, Chhaava, Kuberaa, Thama and The Girlfriend, according to the report.
Her continued presence across different film industries has helped her connect with audiences in multiple regions.
Vijay Deverakonda Celebrates the Achievement
The latest recognition also received a warm response from actor Vijay Deverakonda. After the survey result was highlighted, he shared the relevant magazine image on his Instagram Story and expressed his pride in Rashmika's achievement.
The response added a personal touch to an otherwise major professional milestone for the actress.
Rashmika and Vijay are also working together on their upcoming period historical film Ranabali. The project is notable because it marks their third collaboration and their first film together following their marriage, as reported by Samayam Telugu.
Alongside that project, Rashmika is also associated with the pan-India women-centric film Mysa. Both projects are expected to arrive before the end of the year, according to the report.
Sai Pallavi Enters the Top Four
The poll also produced an encouraging result for another South Indian actress. Sai Pallavi secured fourth place in the ranking, putting her among the country's five most popular female stars.
Her position is particularly notable as she has recently expanded her presence into Hindi cinema after building a strong reputation through Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films.
Sai Pallavi has developed a distinctive following because of her acting style and screen presence. Her inclusion in the top five alongside Rashmika demonstrates the growing national reach of actresses who established themselves primarily through South Indian cinema.
Shraddha Kapoor and Alia Bhatt Complete the Top Five
Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor occupied the third position, while Alia Bhatt finished fifth. This means the top five featured two actresses from the South Indian film industries and three actresses associated strongly with Bollywood.
The result highlights how the distinction between regional and Hindi cinema is becoming less significant when it comes to nationwide popularity. Several actresses who have worked in Telugu and other South Indian films have also developed substantial recognition among audiences outside their original industries.
For Rashmika, however, the first-place finish represents a particularly important achievement. She has moved past an established Bollywood superstar who had dominated the poll for years, signalling the strength of her current nationwide popularity.
What the Ranking Means for Rashmika
The survey result comes at a particularly active stage of Rashmika's career. With multiple projects spanning commercial cinema, historical storytelling and women-centric films, she has a busy period ahead.
Her journey from a Kannada debut to becoming a leading name in Telugu and Hindi cinema illustrates the changing nature of the Indian film industry. Stars are increasingly able to build audiences across linguistic boundaries, and Rashmika's latest ranking is another indication of that trend.
While popularity polls are ultimately a reflection of public sentiment at a particular point in time, reaching the top of a nationwide survey is still a notable recognition for any actor. For Rashmika Mandanna, the No. 1 position places her at the centre of attention and adds another major milestone to her rapidly expanding pan-India career.
