“Modern relationships are incredibly complex. I often think of love more as a bleeding rose than a serene bed of roses. And as society evolves, so too does cinema, embracing the challenge of portraying intricate characters and confronting uncomfortable truths,” shares actress Raashii Khanna. She’s speaking about her upcoming Telugu film, Telusu Kada, set for release on October 17. Written and directed by Neerraja Kona, the film features Raashii alongside Siddhu Jonnalagadda and Srinidhi Shetty. The trailer, notably highlighting Siddhu’s alpha male character, has already ignited considerable discussion. Raashii anticipates this, noting, “Whether you love or hate the film, it will certainly provoke conversations.”
Raashii recounts being approached for the project in 2023. Upon hearing Neerraja’s narration, she immediately recognized its distinctiveness from her earlier, more light-hearted romantic roles in films like Oohalu Gusagusalade and Tholi Prema. She explains, “Before, stories often revolved around couples separating due to ego battles, only to reunite.” In contrast, Telusu Kada offers a refreshingly contemporary and progressive perspective on relationships, she adds.
Despite the trailer emphasizing the intense, ‘alpha male’ qualities of Siddhu’s character, Raashii firmly states that the film deliberately avoids endorsing toxic relationship dynamics. “We engaged in numerous discussions about this,” she reveals. “I found myself frequently questioning certain scenes and the reactions of my character, as well as Srinidhi’s. I strongly believe in prioritizing mindfulness and minimizing emotional harm within a relationship. Siddhu’s character, though brutally honest and unfiltered, often delivers lines that are hard to swallow. I consistently pushed for a sense of redemption for him by the film’s conclusion.”
Interestingly, Raashii herself recommended Srinidhi Shetty for the other significant female role. “That particular character required an actor capable of conveying a genuine sense of innocence, and I felt Srinidhi would be absolutely perfect,” she explains.
Regarding the romantic narrative of Telusu Kada, Raashii notes its stark contrast to her earlier film, World Famous Lover. She clarifies, “While that film started with the demise of a relationship and my character’s departure, this new story presents a much tougher and more complex emotional landscape.”
Reality Check: Love Beyond Fairytales
Growing up, Raashii was captivated by the saccharine romances prevalent in Hindi cinema of the 1990s and 2000s. However, she candidly admits that real-life experiences offered a very different picture. “Though I adore those romantic fantasies, a part of my inner child felt a little cheated when confronted with reality,” she quips with a chuckle.
Raashii Khanna | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Nevertheless, her personal life experiences significantly inform her ability to deliver emotionally authentic performances, even when the characters she portrays are vastly different from her own personality. “The true beauty of acting, for me, lies in embodying roles that are distinctly unlike myself,” she muses. “The sole characteristic my character, Anjali, and I share is a strong sense of self-respect. The film intriguingly explores the question of how much one might compromise that self-respect within a relationship. There were times when filming emotionally exhausted me; I found myself breaking down. I tend to be quite judgmental of my characters, so Neerraja and Siddhu became my essential guides, constantly reminding me to detach my personal moral compass from Anjali’s journey.”
On set, lively debates frequently arose among the cast and crew regarding which of the three main characters held the moral high ground, with Raashii recalling how various team members championed different perspectives. “It truly is an emotionally stirring film,” she affirms.
Raashii reveals an interesting aspect of her acting process: while she meticulously learns her dialogues, she consciously avoids extensive rehearsals. Instead, she prefers to rely on raw instinct once the cameras start rolling. “This approach, I believe, allows for a more natural and spontaneous portrayal,” she elaborates.
Since her debut in 2013, Raashii has predominantly starred in Telugu films, but her career has also spanned Hindi, Tamil, and occasionally Malayalam cinema. “My work choices aren’t dictated by language,” she states. “While I certainly enjoy mainstream projects, I am particularly grateful for opportunities that provide me with greater artistic scope and challenging roles.”
The Quest for Balance: Beyond “Pretty Faces”
Raashii Khanna | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Her role in the Hindi web series Farzi marked a significant stride in this direction. “For a period, the roles presented to me often confined me to portraying mere ‘pretty-looking’ characters,” she recalls. “Most commercial films, unfortunately, offer limited scope for genuine performance. Farzi, however, allowed audiences and the industry to view me seriously as an actor. The emphasis shifted from my hair and makeup to my craft. I am eager to take on more content-driven roles like this.”
Nevertheless, Raashii acknowledges that her project choices are multi-faceted, recognizing the vital role mainstream cinema plays in maintaining her visibility. She is currently involved in the upcoming Pawan Kalyan-starrer Ustaad Bhagath Singh, among other anticipated films. “My aim is to strike a balance between diverse projects,” she explains. “Above all, I wish to avoid being typecast.”
Raashii also shares her professional wishlist, expressing a desire to be cast as a princess or queen in a grand mythological drama. Additionally, she hopes to explore characters with compelling grey shades and to star in a female-led film, specifically in Telugu or Tamil cinema.
Amidst the relentless pace of travel and promotional activities, it is reading that serves as her grounding force. “I recently finished The Book of Women by Osho,” she mentions. “Such books offer me immense calm and a profound sense of peace.”