Before Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna was linked to her 13-years-older Kirik Party co-star Rakshit Shetty

After years of swirling rumours surrounding the relationship between Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda, the actress has finally put speculation to rest. Through a heartfelt message shared on her official social media account, she formally acknowledged her upcoming wedding. For months, admirers had been predicting that the two would exchange vows in a close-knit ceremony scheduled for February 26, 2026. While curiosity about their romance dominated headlines, many also revisited Rashmika’s earlier chapter with actor Rakshit Shetty, to whom she was once engaged.

Rashmika first rose to nationwide fame after her debut in the 2016 Kannada blockbuster Kirik Party. Her lively portrayal in the campus drama earned her widespread admiration and the popular tag of National Crush. The film featured Rakshit Shetty in the lead role, and he also backed the project as its producer. During the shoot, their professional collaboration gradually blossomed into a personal bond, with their on-screen chemistry evolving into a real-life relationship.

Despite a significant age difference of 13 years and the fact that Rashmika had only just begun her career, the couple decided to take their relationship forward. At 21, she agreed to marry Rakshit and reportedly persuaded her family to support her decision. Their engagement took place on July 3, 2017, in a lavish ceremony attended by several prominent names from the film fraternity. Fans eagerly anticipated wedding celebrations that would follow.


However, in September 2018, news broke that the engagement had been dissolved and wedding plans had been scrapped. Reports suggested that differing priorities and personal incompatibility played a role in the split. After the success of Kirik Party, Rashmika began receiving numerous promising film offers and expressed a strong desire to focus on expanding her acting career. It was widely speculated that Rakshit held reservations about this direction. Eventually, both recognized that their aspirations did not align, prompting a mutual decision to part ways. Despite ending their engagement, they maintained mutual respect and refrained from public criticism of one another.

Years later, attention shifted to Rashmika’s bond with Vijay Deverakonda. In October 2025, whispers circulated that the pair had quietly formalized their commitment in a private ceremony. By January 2026, reports claimed the couple planned to wed on February 26 in Udaipur. On February 22, 2026, Rashmika addressed the buzz directly, sharing a message for supporters who had long championed their union. Embracing the fan-created nickname Virosh, she officially confirmed her wedding, bringing years of speculation to a definitive close.