17 May 2022
Hyderabad

Speculations have been rife for the past 14 hours that Khiladi girl Dimple Hayathi is performing for a special number in Nandamuri Balakrishna’s next with director Gopichand Malineni. A little digging, however, clarified to us that it’s not Dimple but one-film-old Chandrika Ravi who is doing the number. Chandrika is of Indian descent but is born and bred in Australia. She moved to Los Angeles for her acting and modelling career, juggling between the US and India for work. She made her Telugu debut alongside Adith Arun in adult comedy Chikati Gadilo Chithakotudu.

A source close to the production house Mythri Movie Makers confirms to us exclusively, “Malineni was on the lookout for a dusky beauty for the song—a reason that might have prompted some to write about Dimple’s participation in the film. Chandrika fit the bill and the director immediately signed her on. It’s a full-on mass dance number and Chandrika is set to scorch the screen with her sizzling moves and expressions.”

The song is believed to be in filming mode right now at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad under the supervision of Sekhar master. After the completion of this song, the film’s team is looking to jet off to the US for a 20-day schedule where portions involving Balakrishna and Shruti Haasan will be shot. With the US leg of filming, Malineni is looking at wrapping up close to 70 percent of the film.

A battery of noted faces like Honey Rose, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Duniya Vijay, Lal, Naveen Chandra, Murali Sharma and Easwari Rao form the supporting cast of the film, an emotional-action drama which focuses on the intense rivalry between the leading man and the villain (Duniya Vijay). The untitled film is a Thaman musical, while Rishi Punjabi is the cameraman.

-NAGARAJ GOUD