Image Source : Screengrab From YouTube & X | Geetha Arts
The highly anticipated solo-lead film of Rashmika Mandanna, The Girlfriend, dropped on Netflix today (Friday, December 5, 2025), instantly soaring up the streaming charts. The initial wave of social media reviews confirms a complex verdict: the actress has delivered a performance of undeniable brilliance, but the film’s narrative has polarized audiences, who find the plot “too preachy” and “stretched.”
The debate over the film’s handling of toxic masculinity is raging across social media, putting the spotlight on the film’s difficult themes and its place in the current “Toxic Love” cinematic trend.
The Unanimous Win: Rashmika Mandanna’s Powerhouse Turn
Performance Hailed as “Best Yet”
The single, undisputed highlight of The Girlfriend is Rashmika Mandanna’s performance. She is being lauded by critics and fans alike for her nuanced portrayal of a young woman spiraling into panic and isolation due to a toxic relationship. Her raw, emotional delivery—especially in silent scenes conveying fear and vulnerability—is being called a career highlight.
Core Conflict: The Toxic Boyfriend
The core of the emotional drama is the controlling partner, Vikram (played by Dheekshith Shetty). Shetty is being praised for delivering a convincingly chilling performance as the “toxic boyfriend” whose actions drive the film’s central conflict.7 The character is a difficult figure, and Shetty’s portrayal effectively captures the manipulative, possessive behavior that audiences are debating intensely.
The Problematic Plot: Preachy and Pacing Woes
Critics Slam Narrative Choices
Despite the powerful lead performance, the film is receiving significant criticism for its narrative choices. Reviewers widely agree that the film becomes “too preachy” in its second half, sacrificing subtle storytelling for overt messaging about self-worth and independence.
The Pacing Problem
Furthermore, the narrative suffers from an uneven pace. Critics suggest the film is “stretched” in its first half, taking too long to establish the core conflict. This structural issue, where the message overwhelms the momentum, is the main reason for the mixed word-of-mouth.
The ‘Animal’ Hangover: Analyzing the Toxic Trend
Obsession vs. Empathy
The release of The Girlfriend comes at a time when Bollywood is grappling with the success of films that have glamorized or, at least, heavily featured toxic male characters (like Animal). The Girlfriend attempts to flip the script, showing the true, terrifying impact of such behavior on the victim.
Audience Polarization
However, the polarized reaction suggests audiences are tiring of the genre altogether. One segment of viewers is grateful for the film’s clear, empathetic portrayal of the victim, while another finds the constant barrage of toxic relationship dramas exhausting, regardless of the film’s ultimate message. The debate over whether to glorify or caution against these dynamics is trending heavily.
Conclusion: A Triumph of Acting, A Trial of Narrative
The Girlfriend is a powerful, if flawed, social drama. Rashmika Mandanna’s performance as the victim is a triumph of empathetic acting that single-handedly makes the film worth the watch. While the narrative stumbles under the weight of its own message, the film succeeds in its primary goal: sparking a necessary and heated debate about toxic love in 2025.
FAQs
Q: Where can I watch The Girlfriend?
A: The Girlfriend is streaming now, having premiered today, Friday, December 5, 2025, exclusively on Netflix.
Q: Who plays the toxic boyfriend?
A: Dheekshith Shetty plays the lead male character, Vikram, whose controlling and possessive actions form the core of the film’s toxic relationship drama.
Q: Why are reviews divided?
A: Reviews are divided because they universally praise Rashmika Mandanna’s performance but criticize the plot for being “too preachy” and having “uneven pacing” in the first half.
Q: Why is the film being compared to Animal?
A: The film is being compared to Animal and similar hits because it directly addresses the theme of toxic masculinity and extreme passion, but from the victim’s perspective, contrasting the prevailing cinematic trend.8
Q: What is the main plot critique?
A: The main plot critique is that the film sacrifices subtle, complex storytelling for overt social messaging, causing the narrative to feel “stretched.”
