Rashmika Mandanna Launches Project Annapurna to Give 400 Families Grocery Support for a Year

Three months of groceries at a time for 400 families

Actor Rashmika Mandanna has announced Project Annapurna, a programme to provide essential groceries to 400 families across eight locations in southern India, with support planned every three months for a year. Each household is to receive a kit containing 75 kg of rice, 10 kg of wheat flour, 15 kg of mixed pulses and 10 litres of cooking oil, alongside other food staples.

The programme covers Hyderabad, Mahabubnagar, Anantapur, Vijayawada, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi and Kodagu. Rashmika says the aim is to reduce families' grocery bills so they can save money and plan their futures, including their children's education.

The announcement brings together two parts of her life: charitable work she says she previously kept private and her portrayal of Jayamma in the upcoming historical film Ranabaali. The film, directed by Rahul Sankrityan and starring Vijay Deverakonda, draws on the Great Madras Famine of 1876 to 1878.

Rashmika described the commitment in her social media announcement, explaining both the number of families and the intended duration:

So hence I thought, why not start now... with this! I've adopted 400 families today... and I want to just help 400 families at a time for 3 months each and continue this for the next year and hope that they can save that money on groceries and use it to save and plan their futures better.

What will each household receive?

Project Annapurna centres on substantial grocery deliveries rather than a single meal. The first phase is intended to provide enough supplies for three months, followed by further distributions during the planned year of support.

The announced contents combine staple grains, ingredients used in everyday cooking and foods that provide protein:

• 75 kg of rice.
• 10 kg of wheat flour, also called atta.
• 15 kg of mixed pulses, with three varieties included.
• 10 litres of cooking oil.
• Ragi, soya chunks, spices, tea and other essentials.

Ragi is finger millet, a grain commonly used for porridge, flour and other dishes. Pulses include foods such as lentils, while soya chunks are a source of plant protein. The mix gives households ingredients for several kinds of meals rather than relying on rice alone.

Across 400 households, one distribution at the stated quantities would require 30,000 kg of rice, 4,000 kg of wheat flour, 6,000 kg of pulses and 4,000 litres of oil. Those totals are calculated by multiplying each family's allocation by 400; they describe the scale of a planned distribution.

The rice allocation works out to 25 kg per household per month over three months. How long a kit lasts in practice will depend on the number of people in each household and what they eat. The quantities therefore matter alongside the promise of three months of assistance.

Eight locations across five states

Hyderabad and Mahabubnagar are in Telangana; Anantapur and Vijayawada are in Andhra Pradesh. Bengaluru and Kodagu are in Karnataka, Chennai is in Tamil Nadu, and Kochi is in Kerala. Kodagu is a district, so the programme's reach includes more than major cities.

The geographical spread means the commitment extends across five states. Families in all eight locations are to receive groceries through the same initiative, although the announcement does not give a location by location allocation.

Four distributions would fit a schedule of one delivery every three months over a year. For a participating household, the practical value lies in that repeated support: a grocery expense removed once provides immediate relief, while a recurring delivery can make it easier to plan spending across several months.

Why saving on food is central to the plan

Rashmika has framed Project Annapurna as a way to help families retain money they would otherwise spend on essentials. The assistance takes the form of groceries, while the intended financial benefit comes from the household spending less of its own income on those items.

Children's education is one purpose identified for those savings. A family receiving rice, flour, pulses and oil may have more room in its budget for school expenses or future needs. The programme's stated goal is to create that room through regular food support.

The benefit will vary between households. A larger family will use supplies more quickly, and local prices will affect the value of the groceries received. No rupee estimate of household savings has been announced, so the clearest measure of the commitment is the food quantity and planned delivery frequency.

Jayamma and the famine story behind Ranabaali

Rashmika links the initiative partly to Jayamma, the character she plays in Ranabaali. Jayamma is the wife and companion of Vijay Deverakonda's character, a warrior confronting British rule while trying to protect his people.

The film is set in southern India during the 1870s and draws inspiration from the Great Madras Famine of 1876 to 1878, also known in the Tamil account as the Thathu year famine. Its story places hunger and the suffering of communities within the setting of colonial rule.

Rashmika said portraying Jayamma prompted questions about the similarities between the character and herself. In her social media post, the actor connected those questions to her wish to help others:

There is something in the characters you play that influence you.. A lot of you keep asking are there any similarities between Jayamma and me and my answer is yes - and this is one of them..

Ranabaali is her third film with Vijay, following Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade, and is described as their first film together following their marriage. Rahul Sankrityan directs, with Mythri Movie Makers producing. Arnold Vosloo appears as the antagonist.

The film's release is widely listed for October 16, while an October 15, 2026 theatrical date has also been published. The timing of the charity announcement places it ahead of the film's planned release, with Rashmika making a direct connection between her role and the grocery programme.

Why Rashmika made her charity work public

Rashmika says helping others has long been part of her life, but she previously preferred to keep those efforts known only to herself, her team and a small circle. Her explanation for speaking publicly now is that followers might be encouraged to help someone themselves.

The actor described that hope in her announcement:

But now I am opening up about this because I am thinking.. if this could influence you lovelies out there to do anything like this.. I would be happy,

Her appeal was for contributions of any size, rather than for everyone to match the scale of Project Annapurna. She urged followers to begin with something small:

Even a small act of kindness can change a person's life, and it doesn't have to be big. Let's all start with something small!

Rashmika also spoke about the emotional value of seeing families happy, connecting their smiles with the sleepless nights, injuries, struggles and pain she had experienced during her working years. Her explanation combines a practical commitment to groceries with a personal reason for continuing charitable work.

A crowded launch and earlier help for students

Film Nagar was the planned location for Rashmika to distribute supplies personally at the launch. Large crowds prompted police safety measures, and her appearance was rescheduled. She is expected to participate with additional security arrangements.

Vijay is also described as participating in Project Annapurna. The initiative follows charitable activities associated with the couple, including annadanam, the distribution of free meals at temples, and scholarships for students attending government schools in Telangana.

A scholarship distribution by the Vijay Deverakonda Foundation in Thummanapeta, in Balmur mandal of Nagarkurnool district, is reported to have reached 181 students on June 14; the couple's earlier scholarship support is also described as reaching 180 students. The detailed account of the June event gives awards of Rs 10,000 for students securing first place and Rs 5,000 for those securing second place.

Vijay had announced support for pupils in Classes 9 and 10 at government high schools in Nagarkurnool district during a visit to his home village with Rashmika. The education assistance and the new grocery programme share a focus on household needs, although they provide different forms of support.

What happens next?

Project Annapurna's next practical steps are distributing the initial kits across the eight locations and maintaining the intended cycle of support. Rashmika's personal appearance at Film Nagar is also due to take place under revised security arrangements.

The announcement leaves several operational details open: how families qualify, how they are selected, whether the same 400 households will receive every round, who manages distribution, the programme's total budget and the dates of the next deliveries. A replacement date for the Film Nagar appearance has not been given, and the film's conflicting release dates await clarification.

The sequence of events connects the programme with both earlier charity and the forthcoming film:

• 1876 to 1878: The Great Madras Famine, which provides the historical setting for Ranabaali.
• June 14: The reported scholarship distribution in Thummanapeta by the Vijay Deverakonda Foundation.
• Project Annapurna announcement: Rashmika commits to grocery support for 400 families, three months at a time, over a year.
• Film Nagar launch: Her planned appearance is rescheduled after crowds prompt police safety measures.
• October: Ranabaali is listed for release on October 16, with October 15, 2026 also published.

For participating households, the central promise is straightforward: regular deliveries of staple foods should reduce the amount they need to spend on groceries. Carrying that promise through the planned year will determine how much sustained relief the programme provides.

Key Points

• Project Annapurna is intended to support 400 families across eight locations in five southern Indian states.
• Each kit includes 75 kg of rice, 10 kg of flour, 15 kg of pulses and 10 litres of cooking oil, plus other essentials.
• Rashmika plans support every three months for a year, helping families save on groceries and plan future spending.
• She connects the initiative partly to Jayamma, her character in the historical film Ranabaali.
• Her Film Nagar appearance was rescheduled because of crowds and police safety measures.
• Family selection details and the next distribution dates have not been announced.