Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya were initially associated with Chennai Love Story before exiting the project. Kiran Abbavaram and Sri Gouri Priya subsequently took over as the lead pair. Released in July, Chennai Love Story turned into a strong theatrical performer, making the casting change an intriguing talking point.
Chennai Love Story opened with ₹5 crore India net and witnessed strong growth over its first weekend. The film eventually completed its theatrical run with around ₹50 crore gross, performance significantly exceeded expectations for its modestly budgeted romantic drama.
Meanwhile, Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya reunited for EPIC – First Semester, directed by Aditya Haasan. The film hit theatres on September 11 and recorded around ₹2.5 crore in India on its opening day. The response has been mixed despite their popular Baby combination.
The contrasting journeys have naturally sparked discussions about casting and project choices. Chennai Love Story emerged as a surprise success, while EPIC faces the challenge of sustaining momentum. In hindsight, Anand and Vaishnavi’s exit from the former project looks like a missed opportunity, although box office outcomes ultimately depend on execution, audience response and timing.
