Casting director Mukesh Chhabra has revealed interesting insights into the casting process of Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar.

In a recent interaction, he shared that Ranveer Singh was the first and only choice for the lead role. Mukesh revealed that Ranveer was brought on board much before the rest of the cast was finalized, with the full ensemble locked only months later.

He added that Aditya Dhar was clear about his vision and saw the character of Hamza only in Ranveer, who has now given an award winning performance.

“There was no alternative,” Mukesh stated in an interview, emphasizing that the director was convinced Ranveer was perfect for the role, which ultimately shaped the film’s casting journey.

Director Anil Ravipudi expressed strong enthusiasm for Vignesh Shivan’s upcoming film Love Insurance Kompany (LIK) during its grand pre-release event that took place yesterday in Hyderabad.

He revealed that he had already watched a special screening of the Telugu dubbed version and is confident that the film will emerge as a blockbuster in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana when it releases on April 10, 2026.

Ravipudi shared that the private screening arranged by Vignesh Shivan left a lasting impression on him. He said the film was so engaging that he completely forgot he was watching a dubbed version.

He particularly praised the fresh and futuristic concept, which explores humanity’s dependence on technology while projecting the story into the year 2040. According to him, the trailer only offers a glimpse, and the film delivers a much larger theatrical experience.

He also appreciated lead actor Pradeep Ranganathan, highlighting his natural and relatable performance style. Ravipudi noted that Pradeep comes across as an everyday person on screen, which he believes is the reason behind his consistent success.

He expressed confidence that this film will further strengthen the actor’s winning streak. In addition, he described S. J. Suryah as a valuable presence in the film and called Krithi Shetty’s performance extraordinary.

The event also featured some lighthearted moments. Ravipudi joked with producer Dil Raju, saying he would agree to direct a film only if Pradeep plays the lead. On a personal note, he expressed gratitude to Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan for their warmth and support.

Recalling his recent collaboration with Nayanthara on Mana Shankar Vara Prasad Garu, he described her as extremely humble and said he would always remember the kindness shown by the couple.