Searching for a Second Hero in Venkatesh – Anil Ravipudi Project?

Making a regional multistarrer is never easy. First, the story must offer strong roles for both heroes. Actors usually agree only when they are fully satisfied with their characters. Even then, issues like remuneration, budget limits and marketing scope must be carefully managed. Pan-India films often enjoy huge budgets and wider markets, but regional multistarrers work within tighter financial boundaries.

The same challenges are now being faced by the film planned with Victory Venkatesh and director Anil Ravipudi. The project requires another hero alongside Venkatesh. The team feels that choosing an actor from a neighbouring state could help the market. However, budget concerns remain a major hurdle. In a previous Megastar film, bringing Venkatesh on board increased the budget by ₹15 crores. Around the same time, the OTT deal and non-theatrical revenues dropped sharply. Fortunately, the film performed well in theatres, helping the producers recover.

For the new project, a popular star was initially considered as the second hero, but the plan did not materialise. Now, several names are under discussion, including Tamil actor Karthi. His reported remuneration of nearly ₹30 crores makes the decision difficult. Also, reports suggest he has shown limited interest in acting in other heroes films after Oopiri. The team is searching for a familiar face from Tamil, Malayalam or other industries who fits within the budget. Director Anil Ravipudi is expected to travel to Vizag by the end of March to complete script work.