Sandeep Vanga revealed a shocking aspect that he wanted to rope in Sai Pallavi for Arjun Reddy at the pre-release event of Thandel in Hyderabad.
Sai Pallavi and Sandeep Vanga at Thandel event
Last Updated: 08.39 AM, Feb 03, 2025
Thandel is one of the most awaited films in Telugu cinema, starring Sai Pallavi and Naga Chaitanya in the lead roles. The pre-release event of the film was held in Hyderabad recently, with none other than Sandeep Reddy Vanga as the chief guest. He spoke highly about both Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, but his comments about Sai Pallavi surprised everyone.
Sandeep revealed that after watching Premam, he wanted to cast Sai Pallavi in Arjun Reddy and even tried reaching out to someone in Kerala. "I met an artist coordinator and asked if he could get Sai Pallavi on board. The coordinator asked me what kind of film Arjun Reddy was, and I told him it was a bold and intense love story with strong emotions. I still clearly remember him telling me to forget about casting Sai Pallavi, as she would never do something like that and that I shouldn't waste my time," said Sandeep Vanga.
Later in his speech, Vanga praised Sai Pallavi, saying that while many heroines change with time and industry demands, she has stayed true to her principles and continues to rule South Indian cinema.
Sai Pallavi also did not hold back and praised Sandeep stating "Every director should have a strong voice, and yours is so unfiltered on screen, in interviews, and everywhere. It’s refreshing to see someone unaffected by external pressures."
On the other hand, Sandeep also spoke highly about Naga Chaitanya, revealing that he used Chay as a reference for designing Ranbir Kapoor’s costumes in Animal. "I really love the way Naga Chaitanya carries himself off-screen—his style, attitude, and even the way he drives his Ferrari. I find it so cool, and I’m amazed by his transformation. I hope Thandel becomes a smash hit at the box office," he added.
Thandel was directed by Chandoo Mondeti, and the music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad (DSP). Sandeep also acknowledged DSP’s 25-year contribution to the industry and thanked him for delivering memorable music to Telugu cinema. Thandel is set to release on February 7, 2025, on a grand scale. Whether it will live up to the massive expectations remains to be seen. Stay tuned for more updates.