Mohanlal to star in Yeleti’s next

The film also marks the return of actress Gauthami to Telugu cinema after 17 years

While the status of his next Telugu film with debutant Suresh Vamsi still hangs in balance, Malayalam actor Mohanlal has given his nod to star in director Chandrasekhar Yeleti’s next. The film marks his comeback to Tollywood after a hiatus of more than two decades.

His only appearance in a Telugu film was a cameo in ANR-Balakrishna starrer ‘Gandeevam’ (1994), in which he played a boatman. The film might go on to floors in mid-November and will see the superstar Mohanlal, who played a key role in the former’s Malayalam remake of ‘Aithe’, portraying a middle-class man.

Prod the filmmaker on how he managed to rope in Mohanlal, Yeleti says, “Getting his appointment it self has turned out to be a big thing,” he guffawed. “But once he listened to the script, he gave his consent straightway.

It’s a full-length role and he has allocated 25 days. The film will be shot in Telugu-Malayalam simultaneously and we shall wrap up by January.”Interestingly, Gauthami, who is also returning to Tollywood after 17 years, will play Mohanlal’s wife in the family drama. She was last seen in ‘Chilakkottudu’ (1997).

By Nagaraj Goud