SSMB29 filming in full swing; Nana Patekar declines key role offer
SSMB29, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra, films in Hyderabad and Odisha. Nana Patekar declines a major role, leaving a casting gap.
image for illustrative purpose
Director S.S. Rajamouli and actor Mahesh Babu are currently filming their highly anticipated project, SSMB29, an epic adventure set to challenge box office records. Production is underway with massive Kashi-themed sets rising in Hyderabad, while intense action sequences are being shot in Odisha. The cast includes Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran.
The film’s music is composed by M.M. Keeravani, an Oscar awardee, and the budget is speculated to approach Rs 1,000 crore, fueling comparisons to an Indian version of Indiana Jones. The buzz around the project continues to build among fans and industry insiders.
In a surprising development, a prominent Bollywood actor declined a significant role in the movie. Veteran actor Nana Patekar was Rajamouli’s first choice for the role of Mahesh Babu’s father. The producers reportedly offered him Rs 20 crore for a 15-day shoot, averaging around Rs 1.3 crore per day. Rajamouli personally visited Nana’s farmhouse near Pune to discuss the project. Despite appreciating the script, Nana felt the role was too limited and lacked creative appeal, leading to his polite refusal.
The production team is said to be actively searching for another seasoned actor capable of delivering the emotional depth and handling the project’s scale.
