Director Phanindra Narsetti has disclosed that his recently released film ‘8 Vasantalu’ was initially envisioned with Kollywood star Suriya and Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone in the lead roles.
The film, which hit cinemas on June 20, 2025, ultimately starred newcomers Ananthika Sanilkumar, Hanu Reddy, and Ravi Teja Duggirala.
During an interview, Narsetti shared that he had written the script for ‘8 Vasantalu’ with Suriya and Deepika Padukone in mind, specifically aiming for an adult-oriented narrative with strong dialogues. However, discussions with the producers led to a change in plans.
The producers expressed concerns about potential difficulties in working with established stars or the story being altered during the process, and suggested opting for fresh faces instead. After considering their advice, Narsetti agreed to go ahead with a new cast.
While the film received mixed reviews upon its release, the thought of Suriya’s intensity coupled with Deepika Padukone’s versatility in the central roles has sparked considerable “what if” discussions among fans.
The current cast, Ananthika Sanilkumar, Hanu Reddy, and Ravi Teja Duggirala, have since taken on the challenging roles, with Sanilkumar, in particular, garnering praise for her performance as Shuddhi Ayodhya.