The Girlfriend: Plot Holes & Fan Fixes – What Could’ve Made the Emotional Thriller Perfect?

Rashmika Mandanna’s The Girlfriend was released on November 7, 2025. This Telugu romantic drama has been praised a lot. Critics called it a brave and timely film. It talks about toxic relationships and control. The film focuses on Bhooma (Rashmika Mandanna) and her controlling boyfriend, Vikram.

While the emotional message is powerful, many viewers have pointed out some confusing parts. These are called plot holes. There are small gaps or mistakes in the story’s logic. Fans have taken to social media to discuss these issues. They are suggesting how the story could have been tighter.

According to The Hindu, the film is an emotionally visceral take on stifling relationships. However, Great Andhra noted that many scenes lacked emotional impact and logic. Let’s dive into the biggest story gaps and see how fans think they could be fixed.

The Biggest Plot Holes that Confused Viewers

The film tries to show the raw reality of a controlling partner. But some details did not feel real to the audience. These gaps broke the movie’s flow.

1. The Underwritten Friend and Professor

Bhooma’s story is very intense. But the people around her seem weak.

• The Issue: The character of Anu Emmanuel as Durga, the friend, felt confusing and unimportant. Her presence in the college felt superficial. Also, the professor’s role in the college setting was not fully developed.
• The Problem: Bhooma is going through a huge emotional battle. She needs strong support. Her friend should have been her rock. Instead, the friend disappears or does not help much. This makes Bhooma’s journey feel isolated from reality.
• Fan Fix: Give the friend more power. Fans suggest that Durga should have been the first one to realize Vikram’s toxicity. She should have given Bhooma an early warning. Or, she could have been the one who helped Bhooma gather proof to stand up to Vikram. This would have made the climax stronger.

2. The Unrealistic Father Character

The plot relies on Bhooma having no support. This is where her father’s character comes in.

• The Issue: Rao Ramesh plays Bhooma’s father. He is the main reason Bhooma feels trapped. He calls her “characterless” when he finds out about her boyfriend. This lack of support forces her to stay with Vikram. However, many viewers felt the father’s reaction was too extreme and sudden.
• The Problem: The character of the father felt like a mere tool to push the heroine into the boyfriend’s trap. His actions seemed unbelievable even for a protective father. This made the story less about a toxic relationship and more about forced drama.
• Fan Fix: Show the father’s backstory. Fans say the movie should have spent time showing why the father is so strict. Was he a controlling husband himself? Did he have a bad past experience? Showing this background would make his behavior feel more real and less like a quick plot device.

3. The Pacing and Logic of College Scenes

The movie is set mainly in a college. But the world outside the relationship felt slow and empty.

• The Issue: Great Andhra noted that the film had a sluggish pace and some unnecessary scenes. Specifically, the hostel scenes felt far from reality. The film spent too much time on Vikram’s jealousy. It did not spend enough time showing Bhooma’s life or studies.
• The Problem: The film is about a college student. But we rarely see her study or interact with her peers normally. The entire story revolves around the relationship. This made the movie feel small and focused only on the emotional fight.
• Fan Fix: Sharpen the editing. Fans suggest the director should have removed the slow parts. They could have replaced them with scenes showing the impact of the toxicity on Bhooma’s grades or career. This would show the real-world cost of her toxic relationship.

Why These Fixes Matter: Increasing the Emotional Depth

These suggested fixes are not just about finding mistakes. They are about making the film’s message even stronger.

The Message of Independence

The film is an important answer to other movies that glorify toxic love (like Arjun Reddy or Kabir Singh). It tries to show the danger of a controlling partner.

• If the father and friend characters were better written, Bhooma’s fight for independence would feel braver. Her struggle would feel more real.
• The final message would resonate deeper with young Indian women.

Focus on Rashmika’s Performance

Rashmika Mandanna has been praised a lot. Many are calling this her career-best performance. She successfully showed the pain and turmoil of Bhooma.

• A stronger script, without plot holes, would have allowed her performance to shine even more. Good acting deserves a flawless plot.

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Our Opinion

“The Girlfriend is a content-driven film. It had a slow start at the box office. But it picked up based on strong word-of-mouth. This shows the audience liked the core idea. The film has crossed ₹11.25 Crores (Nett India) in its first week. Its budget was modest, around ₹15-20 Crores (estimated). This means it is on its way to a safe run. It might reach the ‘Average’ verdict. However, these plot holes hurt the film’s chances of becoming a Super Hit. A tighter, more logical script would have pushed its collections past the ₹25 Crore mark easily. The movie is important for its message, but the writing needed one more polish.”

BoxOfficeWala