Why This Celebrity Marriage Feels So Familiar

Earlier this year, photos of India’s most viral wedding stunned the internet. Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda were declared the couple of the year and their wedding photos became Asia’s most liked non-reel post on Instagram. So, of course, fans were eagerly anticipating the couple’s appearance on the final season of Karan Johar’s famed celebrity talk show, Koffee with Karan. When Johar asks if there was a “proposal,” Rashmika laughingly says no. “You ask me 100 times and then we’ll get to it,” Vijay shared. Even Johar, who has seen relationships start, end, and everything in between, raised his eyebrows. “I asked him for an entire year,” Rashmika affirms. “I’m not an a**hole!” Vijay counters. 

Many disagreed. “In short, Rashmika loves Vijay and Vijay loves Vijay!” one fan reacted. Clearly, the rumors are true: Johar’s couch is cursed for couples (only Saif and Kareena have survived). One conversation was all it took for a modern-day fairytale to become a cautionary tale. Explanatory Instagram posts from Vijay and Rashmika followed; the couple also filed a cybercrime police report in response to the online commentary. So why did this interview lead to such an outsized reaction? The Juggernaut spoke to a couples’ therapist, anthropologist, and more to find out why audiences got the ick — and what we might have missed.