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'It felt like a slap on my face': Why top Telugu director didn't want to cast Samantha
Director Sukumar’s recent remarks have brought ‘Rangasthalam’ back into the spotlight. The 2018 blockbuster, starring Ram Charan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, remains one of Telugu cinema’s biggest hits. But Sukumar has now revealed that he was initially unsure about casting Samantha as the film’s leading lady — a confession that has since gone viral.Sukumar said while developing ‘Rangasthalam’, he initially wanted to cast a newcomer opposite Ram Charan. He believed having two established stars could shift the audience’s focus away from the story, and felt a fresh face would bring better balance to the film.However, as the script evolved, Sukumar realised that the character of Ramalakshmi needed an actress who could effortlessly portray the innocence and simplicity of a village girl. Samantha’s name came up during discussions, and she agreed to the project immediately after hearing the story.The director admitted that just a few days into filming, he knew he had made the right decision. Samantha completely transformed into Ramalakshmi, impressing him with her preparation, rural dialect, body language and emotionally authentic performance.Recalling the experience, Sukumar joked, “Samantha’s performance felt like a slap on my face. It was as if she was asking, ‘Why didn’t you choose me in the first place?'” He praised her for bringing the character to life in every scene, from the iconic ‘Rangamma Mangamma’ song to the film’s emotional climax.When Rangasthalam hit theatres, it became a landmark film not just for Ram Charan but also for Samantha. Her portrayal of Ramalakshmi earned widespread acclaim and continues to be remembered as one of the finest performances of her career, helping the film attain classic status in Telugu cinema.Sukumar may have had doubts about casting Samantha initially, but by the end of the shoot, he was completely won over by her performance. Even today, for many fans, the moment they think of Ramalakshmi, Samantha’s face is the first image that comes to mind.