Ananya Panday and Mrunal Thakur to star with Allu Arjun?

The much-anticipated AA22 — Allu Arjun’s 22nd film, directed by Atlee — is yet to go on floors. Officially announced on the occasion of Allu Arjun’s birthday, the project has been generating steady buzz, especially regarding its casting.

While the film’s shoot hasn’t begun, director Atlee has reportedly begun the casting process for the female leads. Ever since then, several high-profile names have surfaced in the media.

Initially, there were rumors about Priyanka Chopra being part of the film, which were later debunked. Deepika Padukone’s name also did the rounds but was promptly dismissed by the team.

Fans speculated that Samantha or Keerthy Suresh might be part of the cast, with some even expecting an official announcement on Samantha’s birthday — but that too never materialized.

Mrunal Thakur and Ananya Panday

Now, the latest buzz suggests that Mrunal Thakur and Ananya Panday are likely to star alongside Allu Arjun, reportedly taking two of the three female lead roles in the film. Atlee is still in talks with several top actresses and will make his final decision after confirming availability and scheduling.

Mrunal Thakur has quickly become a familiar face in Telugu cinema, with notable performances in films like Sita Ramam, Hi Nanna, and Family Star. She also made a cameo appearance in Prabhas’s upcoming sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD and is currently shooting for Dacoit opposite Adivi Sesh.

Ananya Panday, on the other hand, is a well-known name in Bollywood. She made her Telugu debut alongside Vijay Deverakonda in Liger, which unfortunately did not fare well at the box office. Since then, Ananya has been actively looking for a strong script to mark her return to Telugu cinema.