Nayanthara was initially signed to play the female lead opposite Nandamuri Balakrishna in NBK111, a period action drama that was originally set to be directed by Gopichand Malineni.
She had reportedly received an advance payment for the project and was expected to play a queen in the film.
However, following the disappointing performance of Akhanda 2, the makers reportedly reconsidered the scale of the project.
As the original script required a massive budget, they decided to shelve that version and develop a regular commercial entertainer instead.
The change in the script also led to a change in the casting. Kajal Aggarwal was brought on board as the female lead in the revamped project.
Industry sources say that Kajal’s remuneration is significantly lower than Nayanthara’s, helping the makers reduce the film’s overall budget.
Although Nayanthara is no longer part of NBK111, her association with Balakrishna may not be over.
According to industry buzz, Balakrishna has reportedly suggested that the advance paid to Nayanthara be adjusted against a future film in which the two can work together.