Ace director S S Rajamouli is reportedly planning to replace Bollywood actor Rajat Kapoor in his much-hyped film Varanasi. According to sources, Rajamouli is keen on finding another popular actor to portray the role of superstar Mahesh Babu’s father in the magnum opus.
“Rajat Kapoor is undoubtedly a talented performer and has won appreciation for his work in Hindi films such as Mithya, Mixed Doubles and Siddharth,” says a source. “He was signed purely for his acting talent. However, the director and actor are not on the same wavelength when it comes to shaping this crucial character in a very specific way.”
Known for extracting powerful performances from his actors, Rajamouli reportedly feels that pushing further may not yield the desired result. “He doesn’t want to stretch things beyond a point and is therefore considering a replacement. The director has also taken a brief break from the shoot,” the source adds.
Varanasi already boasts an ensemble cast featuring Priyanka Chopra, Prithviraj Sukumaran and R Madhavan, among others, who are expected to bring depth to their respective roles. Mahesh Babu, meanwhile, will be seen in a larger-than-life character whose journey spans from a forest adventurer to an embodiment of Lord Ram, as the socio-fantasy narrative unfolds across multiple time loops.
“Rajamouli strongly believes in multi-casting to give distinct weight and texture to each character he designs,” the source points out.
While senior actor Prakash Raj is said to be a strong contender—having previously played Mahesh Babu’s father in the blockbuster Dookudu—the director is understood to be exploring other options as well.
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