Having co-stars with big daddies is proving to be a bane for South star Siddharth. The Rang De Basanti actor's Telugu film Anaganaga O Dheerudu (Once Upon A Warrior) features him with Shruti Haasan and Lakshmi Manchu.
The project is being produced by Walt Disney Productions (which marks its entry into Telugu films) and K Raghavendra Rao.
Apparently, the makers are keen to extend special invitations to Shruti's father Kamal Haasan and Lakshmi's dad and Telugu star Mohan Babu for the music release later this month.
The buzz from Hyderabad is that when Siddharth heard about the guest list, he expressed his reservations. The young star felt having heavyweights at the event would mean the focus would be on them and not on the movie and its cast.
Says a source, "He tried to convince the producers to tell Shruti and Lakshmi not to get their dads for the music release. It was as if he felt insecure about having the star fathers at the function. According to him, the star daughters along with their papas would hog the limelight while he would cut a solitary figure."
Siddharth, who is currently in the US, remained unavailable for comment.
Shruti's spokesperson preferred not to comment about the event and maintained, "She is excited to be part of the project and work with director Prakash Rao, son of legendary director K Raghavendra Rao as well as actress Lakshmi Manchu."
However a source close to the project states, "Invitations have been extended to several bigwigs of the Telugu industry. Even for the movie's launch, several big names were among the guests."
What the film is about...
Anaganaga O Dheerudu (Once Upon A Warrior) is a fantasy adventure film is set in the fictitious land of Sangarashtra and explores the inseparable bond between man and the myths that remain relevant even today.
The story focuses on the journey of a nine-year-old girl with special healing powers and her quest to save Sangarashtra from the tyranny of an evil Queen.
The girl is protected by a blind swordsman (played by Siddharth) who faces great adversity. Shruti plays a gypsy woman and Siddharth's lover.