Star Change in Ram Pothineni’s Film.. Is This the Real Reason?

Ram Pothineni is making his directorial debut with the upcoming film tentatively titled ‘RAPO23’, in which he also plays the lead role, while Samyuktha Menon is reportedly the female lead. Malayalam star Fahadh Faasil was previously rumoured to be in consideration for a crucial role, but reports suggest that he may have opted out due to date issues caused by his other commitments. The makers then reportedly approached Tamil actor S.J. Suryah for the role.

However, S.J. Suryah is said to have quoted a remuneration of around ₹8 crore, prompting the team to explore other options. The makers reportedly approached Bollywood actor Ritesh Deshmukh, who is said to have responded positively. This has led to speculation that Ritesh could eventually step into the role initially considered for Fahadh Faasil. With Ram Pothineni taking charge as director for the first time in his career, the project is already generating considerable curiosity. An official confirmation regarding the cast is awaited.