Bhagyasri Borse is bagging other actresses’ roles

In a notable casting update, actress Bhagyashri Borse has stepped in to replace Sreeleela as the female lead in Akhil Akkineni’s much-awaited socio-political drama “Lenin.”

Directed by Murali Kishore Abburu, the film explores the deeply rooted issue of honor killings against the rural backdrop of Rayalaseema.

Sreeleela’s loss

Sreeleela, who had reportedly completed around eight days of shoot, had to exit the project due to a packed schedule. Her current commitments include high-profile Telugu projects like Ustaad Bhagat Singh opposite Pawan Kalyan, Junior, Mass Jathara, and her Bollywood debut Aashiqui 3 alongside Kartik Aaryan. These overlapping schedules made it difficult to align with Lenin’s timelines.

Produced jointly by Annapurna Studios and Sithara Entertainments, under the leadership of Nagarjuna Akkineni and Naga Vamsi, Lenin has been generating strong buzz. The intense teaser, released on April 8 to mark Akhil’s birthday, briefly featured Sreeleela and heightened anticipation for the film, which also marks Akhil’s return to the screen following his 2023 release Agent.

Rise of Bhagyashri Borse

Bhagyashri Borse, who was recently seen in Mr. Bachchan opposite Ravi Teja, has now been brought on board as the new female lead. This marks the second time in recent weeks she has replaced Sreeleela—Bhagyashri was also brought in for Vijay Deverakonda’s upcoming spy thriller Kingdom, directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri.

Bhagyashri’s rising stardom, fueled by her expressive screen presence and strong dance skills, has made her one of the most sought-after young actresses in Tollywood. Fans have reacted with a mix of surprise and excitement on social media. While the production team has yet to make an official statement regarding the change, sources close to the film reveal that Bhagyashri has already begun prepping for her role.