Sign in

Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil weren't first choices for Pushpa: These stars rejected Sukumar's film

Before Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and Fadhadh Faasil, Sukumar wanted to cast these stars in Pushpa: The Rise.

Published on: Dec 4, 2024, 16:38:37 IST
By
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil's much awaited film, Pushpa: The Rule, is all set to hit the theatres today (December 4) in Hyderabad and on December 5 worldwide. However, according to reports, Allu Arjun, Rashmika and Fahadh were not the first choices for Pushpa: The Rise.

Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil's stills from Pushpa: The Rise.
Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil's stills from Pushpa: The Rise.

Allu Arjun was not Sukumar's first choice for Pushpa

According to a Money Control report Pushpa: The Rise director, Sukumar, initially wanted to cast Mahesh Babu as the protagonist, Pushpa Raj. However, Mahesh Babu opted out, hesitant to undergo a transformative journey and playing a character with grey shades. After this, Allu Arjun was approached for the role and the rest is history. Allu Arjun even won a National Award for his performance in the film, creating history by becoming the first Telugu actor to win the prestigious award.

Mahesh Babu, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Vijay Sethupathi were the first choices for Pushpa: The Rise.
Mahesh Babu, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Vijay Sethupathi were the first choices for Pushpa: The Rise.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu set the screen on fire with her dance moves on the song 'Oo Antava' in Pushpa: The Rise. However, according to the same report, Samantha was earlier offered Srivalli's role in the film but she turned it down as the actor didn't want to portray a rural girl on screen after Rangasthalam, which was also directed by Sukumar. The role was then offered to Rashmika Mandanna.

Before Fahadh Faasil agreed to play the villain, SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, in Sukumar's Pushpa: The Rise, the role was reportedly offered to Vijay Sethupathi. However, due to his busy schedule, the actor couldn't make time for Sukumar's film.

About Pushpa 2: The Rule

Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil are all set to reprise their roles in the much-awaited sequel of Pushpa: The Rise. The first part became a huge success in 2021 and made Allu Arjun a pan-India star. Pushpa 2: The Rule has already collected 100 crore in advance booking becoming the second Indian movie of 2024 to top 100 crore worldwide advance booking gross for the first day, after Kalki 2898 AD.

(Also Read: Pushpa 2 The Rule ticket price hike defended by Ram Gopal Varma: ‘No one cries about other luxuries’)

  • Riya Sharma
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Riya Sharma

    Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.Read More