Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga clears the air on initial casting rumours for ‘Animal’: Ranbir Kapoor was the first choice, not Mahesh Babu

Following its nationwide release on December 1, the cinematic thriller ‘Animal’ has swiftly ascended to commercial triumph, and the spotlight now shines brightly on lead actor Ranbir Kapoor for his captivating portrayal of Ranvijay.
Initial rumours had circulated, asserting that the pivotal role was initially offered to Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu.
However, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga has unequivocally clarified that Ranbir Kapoor was his primary choice for the intense character from the onset.Vanga detailed the swift casting process, revealing that Kapoor committed to the project a mere 10 minutes after the narrative presentation.Sandeep told India Today that Ranbir was his first choice for ‘Animal,’ there was nobody else. In the beginning, when he had the idea right after ‘Kabir Singh,’ he met Ranbir after a few months and told him that he was thinking along these lines. He said ‘Sandeep this sounds very interesting, finish the script and we will do it’.

Vanga continued to express how Ranbir Kapoor had been the sole contender in his mind from the project’s conceptualization. The ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ star seamlessly fit into the character of Ranvijay.
Ranbir Kapoor’s filmography has showcased his versatility, exploring diverse genres from the innocent Mickey in ‘Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar’ to the intense roles in ‘Rockstar’, ‘Sanju’, and now ‘Animal’. Sandeep Reddy Vanga lauded Kapoor’s ability to portray a range of characters effectively.
Delving into the specifics of ‘Animal’, Vanga expressed admiration for the “rage” he observed in Kapoor’s past projects, citing ‘Rockstar’ and ‘Sanju’ as prime examples. The director revealed his keen eye for recognizing an actor’s potential and noted that while ‘Rockstar’ was a love story, Kapoor adeptly conveyed the anger and powerful emotions emanating from his character.

Describing Ranbir Kapoor as a “good actor”, Vanga acknowledged being a “fan of his work”, particularly highlighting his impressive performance in ‘Sanju’. The director’s admiration for Kapoor’s consistent excellence has led him to watch almost all of the actor’s films, emphasizing the depth and impact of Kapoor’s contributions to the cinematic landscape over the years.