Having studied at a boarding school in
Kodagu, it was only when she first moved to Bengaluru to pursue a graduate course that
Rashmika Mandanna first heard about
drug abuse. “In college, I used to hear of stories of people using recreational drugs to get an instant high and sometimes, friends used to narrate personal experiences of how they used drugs to beat stress. Somehow, in those early years of your life, the usage of drugs seems to have s cool tag attached to it which it obviously isn’t,” says a visibly rattled Rashmika. Probably why she lost no time in accepting to be part of an event in Mangaluru that aimed at raising awareness on drug abuse. “Many do it to escape reality and beat the effects of stress. It’s human to be flawed but greatness lies in embracing it; not escaping it,” she points out.
Rashmika quotes an example of how actors are expected to be at all times both on screen and off it and how many have a hard time living up to that expectation. “I recently had about of my face breaking out and it did the rounds on
social media. Of course, it did bother me when much was made out of it, but then I realised it’s okay to be flawed. I’m not perfect and I won’t hide it. Likewise, if the youth learn to embrace reality than seek refuge in alcohol or drugs to live in denial, it’d contribute to curb the problem,” shares Rashmika who has already done a sound background check on the facts and figures of the problem. And once she wrapped the event, Rashmika who was on a whistle stop visit to Mangaluru, enjoyed a scenic drive to the airport. “It reminds me so much Kodagu. Greenery brings out the dreamer in me,” she signs off.
