K. Vijaya Bhaskar reflects on challenges casting Katrina Kaif in 'Malliswari'

Nearly two decades after the release of Malliswari, director K. Vijaya Bhaskar has shared his experiences of working with Katrina Kaif in her first Telugu film. The 2004 romantic comedy, which paired Katrina with Venkatesh, introduced the actress to Telugu audiences and remains a significant milestone in her early career.

In an interview with iDream Media, Vijaya Bhaskar opened up about the challenges of preparing Katrina for her role in the film. He revealed that one of the biggest hurdles was helping her adapt to the cultural nuances and mannerisms expected of a traditional Telugu character. Coming from a very different background, Katrina was unfamiliar with these traits.

Recalling the experience, the director explained, “It was very difficult, but what I say is, she’s a very hardworking person. She doesn’t even have any body language. 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.” Despite the challenges, he praised Katrina’s dedication and willingness to learn throughout the production.

The casting process for Malliswari was equally challenging. Vijaya Bhaskar revealed that he personally chose Katrina for the role after noticing her in an advertisement. He believed she had the freshness required to portray the character. However, securing her participation proved complicated, creating unexpected hurdles for the production team.

“Actually, it was my choice to cast Katrina, so it got really tough for the producer. I saw Katrina Kaif in an ad, she was really good. We called her, told her the story, and she said okay. So, we went to Mumbai. Everything was set, however, there was some form of disagreement later in the day. Even when the production team offered an advance, she refused to take it,” the director shared.

With Katrina’s involvement uncertain at one point, the team explored other options, inviting several beauty pageant winners for discussions, auditions, and photo shoots. Among the leading contenders was Sonali Bendre, a highly regarded actress of the time.

While Sonali Bendre was a strong candidate, Vijaya Bhaskar ultimately decided against casting her. He explained that he wanted a fresh face for the role, someone who could instantly be seen as a princess by the audience, rather than someone already associated with established stardom. “I really like Sonali Bendre. She’s a very professional girl and a really good actor. But I knew she was not Malliswari. Sonali Bendre was everyone’s choice for the role of Malliswari because she was considered the most beautiful and disciplined actress of that era. However, I wanted to cast someone who was a fresh face to Telugu audiences so they would truly feel like they were watching a princess,” he said.

The decision to cast Katrina ultimately proved successful. Malliswari became a memorable hit and played a pivotal role in establishing Katrina Kaif among South Indian audiences. She later went on to appear in the Malayalam film Balram vs. Tharadas opposite Mammootty.