Naga Chaitanya is currently immersed in the promotions of Thandel, which is set to hit the screens on February 7. Once this project wraps up, he will shift his focus to his next film, a mystical thriller directed by Karthik Varma Dandu, the filmmaker behind Virupaksha. Initially, Meenakshi Chaudhary was cast as the female lead, but she was later replaced by Sreeleela.
The filmmakers originally felt that Meenakshi and Naga Chaitanya would make for a refreshing on-screen pair. However, due to differences over remuneration, Meenakshi had to be replaced, and Sreeleela stepped in.
Karthik Dandu, a apprentice of Sukumar, has Sukumar’s creative involvement in this project as well, similar to Virupaksha. Reports indicate that Sukumar personally recommended Sreeleela, especially after her special song in Pushpa 2, believing she would be an ideal match for Naga Chaitanya.
However, her participation is now uncertain due to scheduling conflicts, as she is also committed to playing the lead opposite Akhil in his upcoming film, which clashes with the shooting schedule of Chaitanya’s project.
Given the uncertainty, the team is now reconsidering Meenakshi Chaudhary for the role. However, this depends on whether she is willing to adjust her remuneration. Following the success of Guntur Kaaram, she reportedly increased her fees, which initially led to her being replaced. Now, the final decision rests on whether the producers or the actress will make adjustments to reach a mutual agreement.
