Director K. Vijaya Bhaskar discusses challenges of guiding Katrina Kaif in Telugu debut

'Malliswari' Director Reflects on Challenges of Guiding Katrina Kaif in Her Telugu Debut Opposite Venkatesh, Reveals Sonali Bendre Was Initially Considered

Nearly two decades after the release of the romantic comedy *Malliswari*, director K. Vijaya Bhaskar has shared insights into the casting of Katrina Kaif in her Telugu film debut. The 2004 movie, which starred Venkatesh in the lead role, introduced the Bollywood actress to audiences in South India and remains a fan favorite.

In a conversation with iDream Media, Vijaya Bhaskar opened up about the hurdles he faced while preparing Katrina for her role. While he commended her dedication, he acknowledged that adapting her to the character's nuances was a challenging process. “It was very difficult but what I say is, she’s a very hardworking person,” he remarked.

The director elaborated on the cultural gap that posed challenges during the production. He explained that Katrina, having grown up in a different environment, lacked familiarity with the body language and demeanor expected of a Telugu heroine. “Sometimes when she sits, I have to ask her to sit properly. It is because they grew up in a completely different environment. There’s no idea about how a Telugu girl is supposed to be. She should just be a princess, royal and all, but also very respectful and loving,” Bhaskar said.

Interestingly, the filmmaker revealed that the difficulties began even before filming started. Bringing Katrina on board was a complicated process, despite his firm belief that she was the ideal choice for the role.