In a surprising turn of events, popular Telugu actress Sreeleela has reportedly stepped out of Akhil Akkineni’s upcoming film “Lenin,” directed by Murali Kishore Abburu. Sources close to the production cite scheduling conflicts as the primary reason for her exit, sending ripples through Tollywood as fans await further updates.
Lenin, a rustic action drama set against the Rayalaseema backdrop, features Akhil Akkineni in a mass avatar, tackling the sensitive theme of honor killings. Sreeleela was initially cast as the female lead, playing a village belle in a role that promised significant scope for performance. A teaser with Akhil and Sreeleela was also realsed.
However, recent reports indicate that her commitments to multiple projects, including her Bollywood debut in Aashiqui 3 and other Telugu and Tamil films, have led to date issues, prompting her departure from the project.
The makers of Lenin, jointly produced by Naga Vamsi’s Sithara Entertainments and Nagarjuna Akkineni’s Annapurna Studios, are now on the hunt for a new heroine to replace Sreeleela. While no official confirmation has been released by the production team, the buzz on social media platforms suggests that the search for a new female lead is already underway.
With music composed by SS Thaman and a narrative centered around a temple in a Rayalaseema village, Lenin is a crucial project for Akhil, who is looking to bounce back after the underwhelming performance of his previous film, Agent.
As the team navigates this casting change, fans are speculating about potential replacements and how this might impact the film’s November 2025 release timeline.
There are growing reports that actress Sreeleela is gradually shifting her focus to Bollywood. While she recently stated in an interview that the Telugu film industry will always be her first choice, her increasing involvement in Hindi cinema suggests a broader career expansion.
Sreeleela is currently filming alongside Kartik Aaryan and has signed three more Hindi projects that are in various stages of development.
Meanwhile, in Kollywood, she is starring opposite Sivakarthikeyan in the upcoming film Parashakti, further cementing her pan-Indian appeal.