Sandeep Reddy Vanga Reveals Sai Pallavi as Original Choice for Vijay Deverakonda’s ‘Arjun Reddy’

As ‘Thandel’ gears up for its big screen debut in just a few days, the makers organized a lavish pre-release event in Hyderabad, featuring Sandeep Reddy Vanga as the chief guest. During the event, the filmmaker surprised the audience with intriguing revelations. He disclosed that Sai Pallavi was initially considered for the lead role opposite Vijay Deverakonda in the iconic ‘Arjun Reddy.’

The director of ‘The Animal’ revealed his admiration for Sai Pallavi, dating back to her role in ‘Premam.’ Sandeep Reddy Vanga disclosed that he initially envisioned casting the actress for ‘Arjun Reddy.’ However, when approached by a Malayalam actor coordinator about her availability, he was discouraged. The coordinator warned that Sai Pallavi was unlikely to agree to wear sleeveless outfits or perform the intimate scenes required for the role. This led Vanga to reluctantly rule her out. Reflecting on her career, he noted her steadfast principles, which he found rare and admirable over the years.

“I had Sai Pallavi in mind for ‘Arjun Reddy’ during casting. But when the Malayalam actor coordinator reached out and I asked about her, he advised me to drop the idea, citing her reluctance to wear sleeveless outfits, let alone perform the intimate scenes required for the film,” Vanga explained, as quoted by HashtagU.

During the Thandel pre-release event, Sai Pallavi took the stage to address the audience, emphasizing the importance of directors having a distinctive voice. She commended Sandeep Reddy Vanga for his unfiltered approach both on and off-screen, noting his resilience against external influences.