Rashmika Mandanna has officially confirmed what many had speculated: she signed on for Ranabaali primarily because of director Rahul Sankrityan. The actress, speaking to 123telugu.com, said the opportunity to collaborate with Sankrityan — whom she’s admired for years, was too good to pass up. 'I had wanted to work with him for a very long time,' she said, calling him a 'very sensible director.' That alone sealed her commitment. But it wasn’t just the director. When she learned Vijay Deverakonda was taking the lead, her decision became instant. It’s been years since they last shared screen space, and the reunion added emotional weight to the project. She also praised her character, Jayamma, describing her as deeply layered and emotionally resonant. A role she believes will strike a chord with audiences. No mention of pan-Indian ambitions, no talk of scale or star power. Just a simple, personal pull: a filmmaker she respects, an actor she hasn’t worked with in a while, and a script that felt right. The film’s release date remains unannounced. But now, everyone knows why Rashmika said yes.