Parvathi Melton sacked from Varudu

After the tremendous success of Athadu, for which he won the Nandi Award for the best actor and nomination for the best Telugu actor in Filmfare Awards, Mahesh Babu, one of the most handsome men in South Indian film industry today, teams up with director Trivikram Srinivas again with much-anticipated action entertainer Varudu, which is all set to start rolling from February 18 (Wednesday).

Produced by Singanamala Ramesh under the banner of Kanakarathna Movies, Varudu will be extensively shot in the picturesque locations of Rajasthan, Nashik and South Africa. According to sources, the first schedule will be shot in Hyderabad and its longer second schedule will be in Rajasthan.

Interestingly, just as everything is ready for the shoot, the film"s leading lady Parvathi Melton has been sacked from the project. Insiders say that she left for her hometown in USA to attend to her mother who was injured in an accident. And it is heard that hot babe Anushka has stepped into Parvathi"s place as the heroine. However, Anushka's participation is yet to be confirmed.

Varudu will be an action-based romantic entertainer featuring Mahesh in the role of a taxi driver. Notably, Mahesh Babu"s wife and former Miss India Namrata Shirodkar will design the costumes for the heroine and look after the make-up for the artists. Comedian Sunil and Prakashraj have important roles in this film, which is to be cinematographed by ace Bollywood cameraman Sunil Patel of Hum Tum and Bachna Ae Haseeno fame. Varudu is slated for a July 2009 release.

Mahesh Babu's last film was Athidhi (2007), directed by Surender Reddy and produced by his brother Ramesh Babu with a whopping budget of Rs. 22 crores. Despite terrific openings, Athidhi's collections dropped to 45% by the second week of release. The film had a 50 day run. Varudu is expected to be a comeback film for Mahesh Babu in 2009.