03 December 2024
Hyderabad

Announced earlier this summer, Vibe will no longer see Sundeep Kishan in the lead role, our sources tell us exclusively. The project would have marked the actor teaming up with the men behind Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya – writer-director Swaroop RSJ and producer Rahul Yadav Nakka. He has been replaced by Raja Goutham, son of Brahmanandam.

A source close to the development tells us, “Sundeep was eager to do Vibe; it was a passion project of sorts for him. However, his dates were an issue. He has been shooting for Mazaka continuously and then there are other projects lined up as well. On the other hand, the makers of Vibe were keen to start the film in September itself. They had plans to shoot in Kerala in December; they couldn’t afford missing it. So in the best interest of the story demands, Sundeep decided to not associate with the film. Swaroop chose Raja Goutham after what he saw of the actor on the sets of Brahma Anandam, which is a Rahul Yadav production as well.”

The source adds that Vibe has gone on to floors on Monday in Thrissur, Kerala, where it will be shot for more 44 days. “The unit will be back in Hyderabad around January 10-12 and they will begin the Hyderabad leg after Sankranti. Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya girl Shruti Sharma has been chosen as the leading lady, while the supporting cast will feature a bevy of fresh faces,” the source reveals.

Vibe is a collegiate action-love story that narrates the tale of a student and his friends from being novices to becoming rebels.

-NAGARAJ GOUD