The pre-release event for the upcoming film ‘Thandel’, starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, took place in Hyderabad recently, featuring maverick director Sandeep Reddy Vanga as the chief guest. During the event, Sandeep shared an intriguing revelation about his admiration for Sai Pallavi, who plays the female lead in the film.
Sandeep expressed that he has been a long-time fan of Sai Pallavi since her breakout role in ‘Premam’. He shared that she was even briefly considered for the female lead in his iconic film ‘Arjun Reddy’. However, he faced challenges during the casting process.
As per a report by Gulte When the ‘Animal’ director inquired about her availability through a Malayalam actor coordinator, he was advised to forget about casting her due to her reluctance to wear sleeveless outfits and participate in the film’s romantic scenes. This ultimately led him to cast someone else for that pivotal role.
Sandeep praised her for maintaining high standards and integrity as an actress. He further said, “Let alone doing such romantic scenes in the film. That’s how I ended up zeroing out Sai Pallavi. But the good thing that I have observed in her over the years is that she maintained her standard and checkpoints as an actress all through her career, which is very rare.” Sandeep said.
In response, Sai Pallavi acknowledged ‘Arjun Reddy’ as a brilliant film that deserved its final cast. She praised the performances of the lead actors, stating that certain roles are destined for specific actors.
She said, “The actress who played Shalini was brilliant, and so was Vijay as Arjun Reddy. I believe certain actors are destined to play certain roles, and that’s what I think happened with the final cast of Arjun Reddy.”
Speaking of her upcoming film, ‘Thandel’ is directed by Chandoo Mondeti, which is inspired by real-life events involving fishermen from Srikakulam who accidentally drifted into Pakistani waters. The film is set to release in theatres on February 7, 2025.
