Rashmika Mandanna, the star of the blockbuster film Animal, has opened up about the sequel to the action-packed drama, Animal Park, in an interview with Pinkvilla. The actress, who played the role of Geetanjali, the wife of Ranvijay Singh (played by Ranbir Kapoor), shared her excitement about working with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga again and how he is planning to have a ‘blast’ with the second installment.

Animal, which released on 1st December 2023, has been a huge success at the box office, earning over Rs 915.53 crore worldwide. The film, which also starred Anil Kapoor, Tripti Dimri, and Bobby Deol, was praised for its gritty and realistic portrayal of the underworld. Rashmika Mandanna, who made her Bollywood debut with the film, impressed the audience with her performance and chemistry with Ranbir Kapoor.

In a interview after the film’s success, Rashmika Mandanna spoke about the sequel, Animal Park, which is expected to go on floors in 2025. She said that Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who directed both Animal and Kabir Singh, is currently working on his next project, Spirit, before he dives into Animal Park. She also revealed that he had shared some of his ideas for the sequel with her, which sounded mind-blowing.

“That man just functions differently. I don’t know how he thinks, or what he eats or what he does. But with Animal you saw, ‘Oh, this is what the audience like, this is what we like showing the audience, this is the story that we want to maintain’. Now, we have the whole universe. We can play around with whatever we want with Animal Park. So, it’s exciting. And the things that he told me is, of course, it’s too baby of a line. He’s like, ‘Man, I am going to have a blast in Animal Park,’ and he is that man who enjoys making films,” she said.

She also praised Sandeep Reddy Vanga for his vision and conviction, and said that he is not a man who tries to please anyone. “He’s just like, ‘This is the story I want to say,’ and he sticks by it. He doesn’t change according to what people want him to change. So, I love that. I think that man should be protected, and he has to be like that for the rest of his life,” she added.

The actress expresses her gratitude for being the national crush

Rashmika Mandanna, who has been hailed as the national crush by her fans, also expressed her gratitude for the love and acceptance she has received from the audience. She said that she feels a connection and a bond with them, and that being the national crush has a history by itself. “The bottom line is that this is the love and acceptance of the audience because I don’t know if a lot of people get that. I am one among a very few people, and I am conscious of it. I have not been like, ‘Okay, I’m getting it because I deserve it.’ No, it’s like there is some connection between us. There is some bond that has been created between us. I am really grateful, so today when they say the national crush, it sorts of like it has a history by itself, honestly,” she said.

Update on her upcoming projects

The actress also gave an update on her upcoming projects, Pushpa 2 and Mission Majnu. She said that Pushpa 2, the sequel to the Telugu blockbuster Pushpa, starring Allu Arjun, will resume shooting soon. She also said that Mission Majnu, her second Bollywood film, opposite Sidharth Malhotra, is in the post-production stage and will release later this year.

Animal Park is expected to release in 2025, and will feature the same cast as Animal, along with some new additions. The film will continue the story of Ranvijay Singh, a ruthless gangster, and his wife Geetanjali, who is caught in a web of crime and corruption. The film will also explore the relationship between Ranvijay and his father, played by Anil Kapoor.