Rashmika Mandanna admits she was really scared before signing Cocktail 2: ‘Is this the right move?’

FAns ar thirstily awaiting the free of Shahid Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Kriti Sanon's upcoming shoot Cocktail 2. The shoot is a sequel to the 2012 hit Cocktail, with both movies directed by Homi Adajania. During the film's recent trailer launch, Rashmika opened up about her initial inhibitions regarding her character Diya and revealed why the role felt like a major departure from the kind of characters she has portrayed so far.'I was really scared'Speaking at the event, Rashmika Mandanna said, "For me, Cocktail 2 feels like a beautiful mix of love, friendship and all the emotions that come with figuring life out. The trailer really captures the warmth and fun spirit of Diya, Ally and Kunal. Make it a movie outing with friends, partners and family and catch the experience on the big screen."Discussing her reasons for choosing the role, Rashmika said, "I was really scared because this is by far the most urban I've looked in cinema. And because of my films thus far, I feel like the audience sort of somewhere expect a very serious, dramatic sort of performance from me. But for the first time, I've done something this light-hearted, which is specifying on friendship, the madness, the love. For me, initially, I was like, is this the right move to me? But at the same time, because I've never done something like this before, I had to do it. Because I feel like the audience is also looking for something surprising, something new, something very different. And that was one of the main reasons why I thought it was a perfect fit."The actor added that stepping into Diya's shoes allowed her to explore a more carefree and contemporary side on screen, something she had rarely attempted in her career before.Rashmika's careerFor the unversed, Rashmika has largely been known for playing demure and emotionally driven characters in films. Her first breakthrough role came with the Kannada blockbuster Kirik Party. She gained wider recognition in Telugu cinema with the romantic comedy Geetha Govindam, in which she starred opposite actor and now husband Vijay Deverakonda.She subsequently featured in several successful films, including Dear Comrade, Pushpa: The Rise, and its sequel. Rashmika made her Hindi film debut opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Goodbye, but her breakthrough role in Hindi cinema came with Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal, which emerged as one of the biggest hits of her career.About Cocktail 2Ever since the trailer of Cocktail 2 was released, fans have been debating whether the film is a lesbian love story. However, director Homi Adajania has dismissed all such speculation.The trailer suggests that Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna's characters share a romantic relationship, while Kriti Sanon appears to play a free-spirited and carefree young woman who is close friends with Shahid's character. As the story progresses, however, her character seemingly begins to develop feelings for him, setting up an emotional conflict between the trio.The film is slated to release in theatres on June 19.