TV show replaces Abhinaya with Vani, post jail sentence

With Abhinaya being sentenced to two years’ jail in a 20-year-old dowry harassment case in December, the actor has opted out of the daily soap opera, Hilter Kalyana, to wage a legal battle pertaining to the case. She has now been replaced by Vani Harischandra in the serial, which has Dileep Raj and Malaika T Vasupal in lead roles.
Abhinaya, who is best remembered for her character in yesteryear film Anubhava, was portraying the role of a stepmother, Kousalya, which had negative shades. Srividya Raj, who is the producer of the serial, says, “We are not sure whether Abhinaya is jailed or not, but she conveyed to us that she will not work for some time. We respect her decision and we have now got Vani Harischandra as a replacement.”
Vani Harischandra, a contestant of Bigg Boss Kannada season 4, has dabbled is making a comeback to the silver screen after a brief hiatus.