MUMBAI: Marking a monumental shift in pan-India stardom, actress Rashmika Mandanna has emerged as the country’s top female star, according to the latest India Today ‘Mood of the Nation’ poll. Securing a leading 14.7% of the total vote share, the multi-lingual star dethroned long-standing frontrunner Deepika Padukone to take the top spot, reflecting changing audience preferences across linguistic boundaries.
The survey underscores Rashmika’s immense nationwide appeal, placing her ahead of established Bollywood and South Indian stars. Following closely behind her in the poll were Deepika Padukone (11.2%), Shraddha Kapoor (10.8%), Sai Pallavi (10.2%), and Alia Bhatt (8.8%).
Dubbed the “National Crush” early in her career, Rashmika’s path to the top spot represents a structural shift in Indian cinema, where regional barriers have largely dissolved in favor of cross-cultural stardom.
Beginning her career in Kannada cinema before cementing her status in Telugu hit films, Rashmika’s national breakthrough arrived with the record-shattering Pushpa franchise, where her character “Srivalli” resonated with audiences across the country. She further expanded her footprint into mainstream Hindi cinema with massive box-office blockbusters such as Animal and historical epics like Chhaava, alongside critically acclaimed South Indian projects like Kuberaa.
Industry analysts attribute her top ranking in the Mood of the Nation survey to her ability to bridge audiences across North and South India, maintaining strong connections among tier-1 urban centers as well as mass regional markets.
The recognition comes at a high point in the actress’s career as she continues to lead high-budget pan-India productions. Her upcoming slate includes anticipated titles such as Mysaa, Raaka, Ranabaali, and the next installments in the Animal and Pushpa franchises.
With her latest ranking at the top of the national pulse, Rashmika Mandanna has cemented her position not just as a leading lady in regional industries, but as the face of a unified, pan-Indian film landscape.
