Director Anil Ravipudi talks about his upcoming film Sankranthiki Vasthunnam and why he auditioned experienced actress Aishwarya Rajesh for the role of Bhagyam
Director Anil Ravipudi, known for delivering continuous box office hits, is now gearing up for Sankranthiki Vasthunnam. The film stars Venkatesh in the lead role, with Aishwarya Rajesh and Meenakshi Chaudhary playing the female leads. Interestingly, despite Aishwarya’s extensive filmography, the director decided to audition her for the role of Bhagyam.
“It’s a very important role, and she needed to speak in the Godavari accent. To understand her body language, I auditioned her for the part. She’s an exceptional performer and did an outstanding job,” said Anil Ravipudi about Aishwarya. He added that she will receive great recognition for her performance in this role. Anil also spoke about Meenakshi Chaudhary, describing her as a disciplined actress.
Actor Venkatesh also surprised everyone by singing a song for the film. Whose idea was it? “Venkatesh liked the song so much that he wanted to sing it himself. He recorded it in just 20 minutes, and even music director Bheems was surprised. It came out really well,” said Anil Ravipudi about the song. Anil explained the significance of the film’s title, saying, “The story revolves around a rescue operation that begins four days before the Sankranthi festival. When I wrote the story, I finalised the title right away.”
The director also mentioned his earlier collaborations with Venkatesh, particularly F2, which was a Sankranthi release and became a massive blockbuster. “My other film, F3, missed the Sankranthi race, but with this movie, we decided to release it during the festival. That’s how it all came together,” he explained.
Talking about the film’s universal appeal, Anil said, “The story is relatable to everyone. It’s about a husband caught between his wife and his ex-girlfriend. I’m confident that the audience will thoroughly enjoy the movie and leave the theatre laughing. This film is going to be a blockbuster and I’m sure I’ll continue to succeed as a director,” he said.
Reflecting on his collaboration with producer Dil Raju, Anil said, “I started working with Dil Raju with my first film, Pataas. It’s been almost ten years now. I prefer working with people I share a good bond with and I want to continue this association,” he added.
This marks Anil’s third collaboration with Venkatesh, and he shared that their working relationship has grown into a deep friendship. “Venkatesh garu and I have become best buddies through this journey,” said the director.
He also elaborated on the genre of the film: “I tried something different with Venkatesh in this movie. While it has entertainment, it also includes elements of crime and adventure. The second half takes on a completely unique tone. Even if I were to make an action film with Venkatesh garu, I wouldn’t miss adding the entertainment quotient,” Anil shared.
