SS Rajamouli confirms actor Nani’s casting in his dream project ‘Mahabharata’

During the pre-release event of Nani’s upcoming film HIT 3 that took place in Hyderabad on April 27, acclaimed filmmaker SS Rajamouli made headlines by confirming the casting of actor Nani in his much-anticipated dream project, Mahabharata.

The event, hosted by popular anchor Suma Kanakala, featured a lively Q&A session. While Rajamouli remained tight-lipped about updates on his current project, “SSMB 29”, he addressed long-standing speculation and rumours about his dream project Mahabharata. 

When asked about Nani’s role in the epic, Rajamouli stated, "Only Nani’s casting is fixed," a revelation that drew thunderous applause from the audience. Though he did not disclose which character Nani would portray, the confirmation that Nani would be a part of the film alone heightened excitement and anticipation for the project.

Later in his speech, the director also expressed gladness to see Nani’s growth as an actor. The actor and director share a strong bond since their collaboration for the film Eega (2012).

Meanwhile, Nani spoke fondly of Rajamouli and thanked him for accepting the invite to be the chief guest and attend the pre-release event despite his busy schedule. “I messaged Rajamouli requesting him to attend the event. He was shooting for his film, but I won’t say which film it is.” “I needed to ask him, but I wasn’t sure whether he would come, but he instantly agreed," said the actor.

Vishwak Sen and Adivi Sesh, who were part of the first and second parts of the HIT franchise, also graced the event with their presence. 

HIT 3, directed by Sailesh Kolanu, is charted for its grand release on May 1st, competing alongside Suriya’s ‘Retro’ at the box office, releasing on the same date. In this third instalment of the HIT franchise, Nani will play the role of an aggressive police officer, Arjun Sarkaar, anticipated to deliver a thrilling cinematic experience.

Director SS Rajamouli (known for his blockbusters like Baahubali and RRR)  is currently working on ‘SSMB 29’ with Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra. However, he had stated earlier that directing Mahabharata’ is his long-standing dream project. Rajamouli has previously spoken about his vision to create a 10-part cinematic adaptation of one of the greatest ancient Indian epics of all time — a project he believes will require immense time, resources, and expertise to bring to life.

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