My first draft was ready in two months. But I overwrote it -- more than 225 pages. Then I had to chop it and refine it. So that took about four-five months.

You were planning to cast Bhumika but later cast Swati and newcomer Nani (who was an RJ) and Bhargavi...

After I could not get Bhumika for various reasons, I made Swati and Nani who were the second leads, the main leads. Nani came through a friend who suggested he would make a good actor. I auditioned him and found him to be very talented.

Bhargavi used to act in television serials. I liked her crystal clear diction and good language.

You also chose Srini Avasarala, another newcomer by inviting applications through a website. How tough was the selection process?

I wanted somebody with command over Telugu. Srini was the first to send the CD. He was good. Subsequently we used his CD as the yardstick to judge other applications. My assistants used to sift through the applications. But eventually Srini was chosen. He was so good, and I was really surprised by his inborn talent. Srini is a mechanical engineer who works in the Princeton University Labs.

Also See: Ram Gopal Varma's protege is back!

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