Ananthika Sanilkumar has been locked as the female lead for Yellamma, the highly anticipated acting debut of music composer Devi Sri Prasad. The actress will star opposite DSP in director Venu Yeldandi’s rural devotional drama, bringing an end to months of casting speculation.
Eventful Casting Journey
Yellamma has undergone multiple casting changes before finalizing its leads. The project was initially planned with Nani in the protagonist role, but the actor stepped away due to prior commitments.
The film was then officially announced with Nithin as the hero and Keerthy Suresh as the leading lady. However, the casting changed again after Nithin’s previous collaboration with producer Dil Raju’s Sri Venkateswara Creations—Thammudu—turned into a major box-office disaster. With Nithin’s plans for Yellamma shelved amid the fallout, the makers handed the lead role to Devi Sri Prasad himself.
DSP makes his acting debut playing a character named Parshi. His first look, unveiled on the music director’s birthday, showed him in a rustic village avatar that generated strong buzz across social media.
Ananthika Sanilkumar Joins the Team
For the female lead, the production team considered several actresses including Mrunal Thakur and Mamitha Baiju before finalizing Ananthika Sanilkumar. Bhagyashree Borse was also approached but opted out due to scheduling conflicts.
Ananthika has built a steady filmography in Telugu cinema with notable performances in MAD, 8 Vasanthalu, Parimala & Co, and most recently Romanchakam. Her selection adds fresh energy to a project already carrying high expectations, given Venu Yeldandi’s blockbuster success with Balagam.
Production and Release Timeline
Yellamma is produced by Dil Raju’s Sri Venkateswara Creations and is currently in pre-production. The rural drama revolves around devotional themes and is being mounted as a pan-Indian project. The makers are eyeing a summer 2027 release, giving the team ample time to complete production and post-production work.
With the lead pair now locked, Yellamma is expected to go on floors soon. The combination of Venu Yeldandi’s proven storytelling credentials and DSP’s massive fan following has positioned the film as one of the most anticipated releases in the Telugu film calendar.
