Meenaakshi Chaudhary joins two major South films in lead roles : Bollywood News

Meenaakshi Chaudhary continues to build her presence in the South Indian film industry with two notable casting developments. Following her performances in Lucky Bhaskar alongside Dulquer Salmaan and The GOAT with Thalapathy Vijay, the actress has now taken on lead roles in two upcoming films that were initially linked with Sreeleela.

Meenaakshi Chaudhary joins two major South films in lead roles

In Karthik Dandu’s untitled project, produced under the SVCC banner, Meenaakshi has been confirmed as the female lead opposite Naga Chaitanya. Industry reports indicate that while other actresses were previously in talks, the makers ultimately chose Meenaakshi after reassessing the film’s direction. According to sources, she was among the original contenders and matched the director’s updated creative vision more closely. The film has been in news for quite some time and is being referred to as NC24 as fans eagerly await an official announcement of the title and other details.

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The second major project where Meenaakshi steps in is Anaganaga Oka Raju, a romantic comedy starring Naveen Polishetty. The film initially featured Sreeleela, and its first teaser reflected that pairing. However, production was delayed due to scheduling conflicts, leading to her exit. A new teaser released around Christmas 2024 revealed Meenaakshi as the new lead. The refreshed visuals focused on her onscreen dynamic with Naveen, offering a glimpse of their comedic rapport.

Meenaakshi’s current choices suggest her aim to establish her name in Telugu and Tamil cinema. She is reportedly reviewing a number of scripts—many pitched as Pan-India films—signalling an interest in roles that expand her reach beyond a single language market.

With two significant films lined up and additional offers reportedly under discussion, Meenaakshi appears to be entering a new phase of her career—one defined by consistency, visibility, and a conscious effort to take on more mainstream narratives.

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