While promoting the re-release of Dhee, director Sreenu Vaitla shared a intresting backstory with FilmShlim.com about his 2004 cult comedy Venky, which starred Ravi Teja and featured a galaxy of comedians including the legendary Brahmanandam.
From Seenu to Venky: A Last-Minute Twist
Vaitla revealed that the film was initially shot with the lead character named Seenu (Srinivas Rao). “Throughout the shoot, we used Seenu as the character’s name. But during post-production, we felt Venky sounded catchier for the title. Since both names had the similar lip-sync, we went with Venky and dubbed accordingly,” he explained.
Interestingly, producer of the film, Atluri Purna Chandra Rao had initially suggested naming the film Ravi Teja, questioning why the title should reference another star (Venkatesh). However, Ravi Teja backed the director’s creative choice, standing firmly by the decision to go with ‘Venky.’
What’s Next for Vaitla & Ravi Teja
On the work front, Sreenu Vaitla is slowly bouncing back after Viswam. Though not a hit, the film marked a creative improvement for the director. He also confirmed to FilmShlim that his next project will be bankrolled by Mythri Movie Makers.
Meanwhile, Ravi Teja is all set for a mass feast with Mass Jathara, slated for a theatrical release during Ganesh Chaturthi in August. He will next team up with director Kishore Tirumala for a Sankranthi 2026 release.
Related