Confirmed: Meenakshii Chaudhary replaces Pooja Hegde in Mahesh Babu's 'Guntur Kaaram'

Meenakshii Chaudhary has been confirmed as the replacement for Pooja Hegde in the upcoming film 'Guntur Kaaram,' starring Mahesh Babu. Meenakshii recently announced her involvement in the project and has already completed the first schedule of the film. Initially, the role was set for Sreeleela, but now Pooja's role will be played by Sreeleela, while Meenakshii takes on the second lead.
Meenakshii Chaudhary began her career as a model and gained recognition as the first runner-up of Miss Grand International 2018. She made her acting debut in 2021 with the Telugu film 'Ichata Vahanamulu Niluparadu' and has since appeared in Khiladi opposite Ravi Teja and 'HIT 2' with 'Adivi Sesh.' 'Guntur Kaaram' will be her fourth film in the Telugu film industry.
Pooja Hegde decided to opt out of 'Guntur Kaaram' due to constant changes in the script and shooting timelines. The production faced delays and reshoots, along with frequent changes in the script, which led to other people associated with the film also stepping back. After careful consideration, Pooja Hegde decided to part ways, citing date issues.

'Guntur Kaaram' marks the reunion of Mahesh Babu and director Trivikram Srinivas after a decade. Their previous collaborations, 'Athadu' and 'Khaleja,' were blockbusters. The film's music is composed by S Thaman, and it is scheduled for release on January 12, 2024, coinciding with the festival of Sankranthi.