Tollywood stars Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna delivered inspiring messages to students while participating in a scholarship distribution program organized by The Deverakonda Foundation.
The event, titled Merit Scholarship Awardees 2026, was held in Achampet, where scholarships were awarded to students who secured first and second ranks in Classes 9 and 10 across 20 government schools.
Addressing the gathering, Vijay Deverakonda shared a personal anecdote that immediately connected with the students.
“I was never a first-rank or second-rank student,” Vijay said.
He then jokingly pointed at Rashmika Mandanna and added, “Rashmika wasn’t one either!”
The comment drew laughter from the audience before Vijay shifted to a more serious message. He told students that success is not determined solely by ranks and marks but by focus, discipline, consistency, and self-belief.
According to Vijay, many successful people were not top rankers in school, and students should not measure their potential only through academic results.
Rashmika Mandanna echoed a similar sentiment. She addressed herself as Rashmika Mandanna Deverakonda. She encouraged students to learn from every experience, whether it results in success or failure.
“Sometimes we win, and sometimes we lose. But every situation teaches us something valuable,” she said.
Rashmika urged students to keep learning from their parents, teachers, and life experiences, adding that setbacks should be treated as opportunities to grow rather than reasons to give up.
Both actors emphasized that while education is important, character, confidence, and perseverance are equally essential for long-term success.
The event recognized academic achievers from government schools while also encouraging students to dream bigger and believe in their abilities. Vijay and Rashmika’s speeches resonated strongly with the young audience, many of whom were excited to interact with the popular stars.
Their message was simple: marks matter, but they do not define a person’s future. Hard work, discipline, and the willingness to keep learning often matter far more in the long run.
“నేనెప్పుడూ 1st, 2nd Ranker కాదు…”
“రష్మిక అసలే కాదు!”
“కానీ Focus, Discipline ఉంటే జీవితంలో ఎప్పుడూ గెలుస్తారు”
–@TheDeverakonda @iamRashmika pic.twitter.com/WZhetKU44h
— M9 NEWS (@M9News_) June 14, 2026
