Indira Krishnan on Rashmika Mandanna struggle to speak Hindi during filming of Animal: ‘Never gave up’

Indira Krishnan, who played a supporting but emotionally significant role in the film Animal, recently opened up about her working experience with lead actors Rashmika Mandanna and Ranbir Kapoor. While the film itself stirred conversations for its storyline and character arcs, Indira shared that what stood out to her the most was the off-screen bond she built with the cast.

In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, the seasoned actress recalled the energy on set, describing it as deeply collaborative. She praised both Ranbir and Rashmika for their humility and openness, highlighting that there was no ego or distance, even though they were top-billed stars.

She especially had words of appreciation for Rashmika Mandanna, who portrayed her daughter in the film. According to Indira, Rashmika initially faced some hurdles due to the language. Hindi, not being her first language, made certain scenes slightly demanding. But what impressed Indira was Rashmika’s quiet determination. “She never gave up or got frustrated. She stayed calm, kept learning, and slowly started delivering dialogues with comfort and confidence,” Indira said.

She never gave up or got frustrated. She stayed calm, kept learning, and slowly started delivering dialogues with comfort and confidence

- Indira Krishnan

The two actresses reportedly spent a good amount of time talking in between takes — not just about acting, but also about broader topics like manifestation, life philosophies, and how they each navigated the emotional weight of the characters.

As for Ranbir Kapoor, Indira described him as someone who instantly makes people feel comfortable. “There’s a natural warmth to him. Even though our interactions were brief during Animal, I had longer conversations with him during the shoot of Ramayana, where we crossed paths again,” she revealed.

Indira also noted that the three of them, at various points, had thoughtful discussions about the universe and energies — a rare occurrence in high-pressure film sets where focus often remains only on performance.

While Animal made headlines for its bold choices, Indira’s perspective offers a softer glimpse into the kind of emotional support and quiet connection that helped bring those performances to life.