Thandel on OTT: Naga Chaitanya’s casting secret, a role that he almost didn’t get

Thandel is Naga Chaitanya's latest film, which became a massive hit at the box office. The movie is set to stream on Netflix from March 7, 2025, and there is significant hype surrounding its digital release. However, many may not know that Naga Chaitanya was not the first choice for the lead role.

Thandel OTT platform details

Geetha Arts, headed by Allu Aravind, originally had the story of Thandel, which is based on a real-life couple. He then brought in director Chandoo Mondeti to develop the script into a full-fledged feature film. 

Once Chandoo completed the script, Allu Aravind suggested a different actor for the lead role, which took the director by surprise. After re-evaluating the script, Chandoo strongly felt that Naga Chaitanya was the perfect fit for the role of a fisherman and proposed his name to the star producer.

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About Naga Chaitanya's casting in Thandel

This decision initially raised doubts for Allu Aravind, who questioned how an actor known for his class appeal could convincingly portray a rugged fisherman. A source close to the team revealed that Allu Aravind was not entirely convinced, but Chandoo was adamant about casting Naga Chaitanya. It was only after the look test that Allu Aravind saw Chay in the transformed rugged avatar and became fully convinced that the Akkineni star could pull off the role effectively.

Thandel is widely regarded as Naga Chaitanya’s career-best performance, earning immense appreciation from audiences and critics alike. Sai Pallavi played the female lead, and her chemistry with Naga Chaitanya was one of the film’s biggest highlights. In terms of appearance, performance, and box office success, Naga Chaitanya proved his mettle, solidifying his position as a bankable star.

The story revolves around Naga Chaitanya’s character, a fisherman from the Srikakulam region, who gets captured by Pakistani authorities after unintentionally crossing their waters. Fans are now eager to see how the film performs on OTT, especially with reports suggesting that a few deleted scenes will be included in the digital version. Stay tuned for more updates.

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