Before the roaring success of Animal, Sandeep Reddy Vanga had established his status as a bankable filmmaker with his directorial debut — Arjun Reddy. The romantic drama film has Vijay Deverakonda as the titular protagonist Arjun Reddy, a wealthy alcoholic doctor with anger issues. Arjun Reddy is considered Deverakonda’s most memorable film and character to date, but did you know he wasn’t Vanga’s first choice to star in the film?
Not Vijay Deverakonda, this South superstar was the first choice to play the main lead in Arjun Reddy:
This actor was Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s first choice for Arjun Reddy
Allu Arjun was Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s first choice to play the main lead in Arjun Reddy. In an interview with India Today, Vanga disclosed that he wanted the National Film Award-winning actor Allu Arjun to star in his first film: “I narrated Allu Arjun a story in 2011, but it didn’t happen. Post that I wanted to narrate Arjun Reddy’s script to him again, but I couldn’t get to him and meet him. This was before I cast Vijay in the film. Then the script went to multiple actors and producers. Then finally I figured out that I should only produce the film.”
As for casting Vijay Deverakonda in Arjun Reddy, Sandeep Reddy Vanga revealed that he was impressed by The Family Star actor the moment he met him: “Later, I was introduced to Vijay by a friend, and after a couple of weeks I narrated to him the story of Arjun Reddy and we started shooting. So, yes, I wanted Allu Arjun in my first film.” The casting decision worked wonders for both Vijay Deverakonda and Sandeep Reddy Vanga if the movie’s rousing success is anything to go by.
On the other hand, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s 13-year dream of working with Allu Arjun is finally coming true as the two will soon be working together on a project: “Yeah, so I have been waiting to work with Allu Arjun, and now I am super excited that we will be working together soon. See, the most important thing is mutual interest in working together, because having an understanding and having an interest in working with each other should be more. So when it’s the right time, then it will happen.” Not many details have been disclosed about the upcoming film.
Made on a modest budget of 5 crore, Arjun Reddy — which also has Shalini Pandey alongside Vijay Deverakonda — earned Rs 51 crore at the box office, according to Times of India and News18. Sandeep Reddy Vanga also made a Hindu remake of the blockbuster movie — Kabir Singh, starring Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani. Kabir Singh went on to become a blockbuster as well, earning Rs 379 crore at the box office, according to Times of India. It also became Shahid Kapoor’s highest-grossing release as a solo lead.
P.S. You can watch Arjun Reddy on Amazon Prime Video Disney+ Hotstar, and Kabir Singh on Netflix.
