NBK111, the second collaboration between Nandamuri Balakrishna and director Gopichand Malineni, was launched last year.
In November 2025, Nayanthara was officially announced as the female lead. However, the situation has changed significantly since then.
Reports suggest that the story of NBK111 has been completely revamped. Due to budget constraints, the team decided to drop the earlier version and move ahead with a new storyline.
As a result, Nayanthara is said to be out of the project. The makers are now in talks with multiple actresses for the lead role.
Kajal Aggarwal has emerged as a frontrunner to replace her. While her casting is yet to be finalised, she is currently among the top choices under consideration.
One of the key reasons behind this change is remuneration. Kajal Aggarwal’s fee is significantly lower compared to Nayanthara, who reportedly charges close to ₹10 crore per film.
Following the underperformance of Akhanda 2, the team of NBK111 is said to be reworking its financial strategy.
The makers are reportedly not expecting substantial revenue from OTT platforms, and for Balakrishna, the theatrical market remains largely confined to the Telugu states.
With Akhanda 2 not performing well in Hindi, relying on the North Indian market may not be a viable option.
As a result, the makers appear to be adopting a more cost-effective approach, including a possible change in the lead actress. |
