Actors Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna are facing criticism on social media after appearing together on Koffee With Karan Season 9. While the couple opened up about their relationship, marriage and their journey from co-stars to life partners, several viewers found their conversation uncomfortable, with some calling Vijay arrogant and accusing him of disrespecting Rashmika.The episode, hosted by Karan Johar, gave viewers a glimpse into the couple's relationship, including how Vijay eventually decided to marry Rashmika.
However, several clips from the conversation have sparked mixed reactions online, with some users questioning their chemistry and others defending the couple against the criticism.An X user criticised Vijay and wrote, "Vijay Devernkonda is a walking red flag. Imagine humiliating your partner in front of whole world.
Lol Rashmika deserves better."Another user questioned Rashmika's decision to marry him, writing, "Rashmika girl. You stayed with this for years & begged to get married after earning so much money with good hits?
You were better off single than marrying this." An Instagram user shared a clip of the couple and captioned it, "At this point, Rashmika loves Vijay and Vijay also loves Vijay."The criticism extended to Reddit, where one user described the episode as a disappointment, writing, "This episode was such a snooze-fest. I honestly never thought Karan would shine!
Rashmika was super cringe and Vijay is a walking red flag!"Another user wrote, "Eh they are so cringe and Vijay is intolerable with that cocky attitude of his."A viewer also suggested that the episode had done little to impress, writing, "Surprisingly, the only good thing about the episode was KJo!"Vijay Deverakonda's marriage remark draws attentionOne of the talking points from the episode was Vijay's revelation that he had asked Rashmika to bring up the subject of marriage 100 times before he agreed to take the next step.Recalling their conversation, Rashmika said she had first suggested marriage while they were sitting at an airport. When she told Vijay, "Let's get married," he replied, "Okay, you ask me 100 times."Karan was surprised to learn that Rashmika had followed through on the request.
She told him that she had asked Vijay about marriage for an entire year. Vijay explained that he did not want them to make such an important decision on the strength of a fleeting emotional moment.
He wanted to be sure that marriage was something they both continued to want, even during difficult phases of their lives."I am not an ass***e," he said, explaining the thinking behind his request.The actor also spoke about how his attitude towards love had changed over the years. He admitted that he had once viewed relationships with disbelief and had been so focused on his career that he saw anything that did not contribute to his professional growth as a distraction.However, his feelings for Rashmika gradually deepened."I was like, I need her around because my day feels better.
My meals feel better when we are sharing them. I sleep incredibly well when she is with me.
Then I realised I want to be married to this woman, I want to be with her," he said.Vijay also described himself as a sensitive person who had been hurt in the past, adding that his experiences had made him protective of himself. He acknowledged that Rashmika had to deal with that side of him before their relationship reached a happier place.Social media users question their chemistryThe couple's discussion about their relationship and wedding also prompted comments about their on-screen and off-screen chemistry.One X user wrote, "Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda are proving that oversharing is the real villain of modern relationships."Another compared them to Bollywood couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, writing, "Just watched Rashmika Mandanna & Vijay Deverakonda and realised they're the South Indian version of Ranbir Kapoor & Alia Bhatt."Another user criticised Vijay's behaviour, describing him as an "obnoxious, narcissistic man child" while sharing a clip related to his proposal story.Some comments also drew comparisons between Vijay's public persona and the character Arjun Reddy, which he played in the 2017 Telugu film directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga.
One X user wrote, "Why are people surprised that men who acted in sandeep vanga movies are like sandeep vanga But alsoooo. I'm really enjoying vijay deverakonda one-upping ranbir kapoor at being icky (sic)."However, not everyone agreed with the criticism.
Defending the actor, one fan wrote, "I don't think he is a red flag. People are quick to label someone as toxic or problematic without understanding the whole situation."More about Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika MandannaVijay and Rashmika first worked together in the 2018 Telugu film Geetha Govindam and later reunited for Dear Comrade in 2019.
Their on-screen pairing fuelled speculation about their relationship for years, although they largely kept their personal lives private.The actors married in Udaipur on February 26, 2026, in ceremonies celebrating their Telugu and Kodava traditions.They have since reunited on screen in Ranabaali, a period action drama directed by Rahul Sankrityan. Vijay plays the titular character, while Rashmika portrays his wife, Jayamma.
Released in theatres on October 16, 2026, the film marked their first on-screen pairing since their wedding.- Ends