Jr NTR Reveals Janhvi Kapoor ‘Manifested’ Her Role in Devara: Part 1 and ‘Shocked Everyone with Her Performance

For those curious about Janhvi Kapoor’s Tollywood debut, Jr NTR recently revealed the backstory of how she was cast in Koratala Siva’s Devara: Part 1. Speaking to The Indian Express, Jr NTR shared that Janhvi essentially “manifested” her role. He also mentioned that filmmaker Karan Johar personally called him to recommend her for the part.

Jr NTR on Casting Janhvi in Devara

Jr NTR explained that while writing the script, they hadn’t initially considered Janhvi for the role of Thangam. However, by the end of the process, the team was convinced. He stated, “Honestly, while working on the script, we hadn’t locked in anyone for the female lead. Karan Johar suggested Jahnvi, praising her talent. Even then, casting her wasn’t in our plans, but her sheer manifestation made it impossible to overlook her by the time the script was finalized.”

Though eager to take on the role, Janhvi was reportedly nervous about delivering her performance in Telugu and living up to the legacy of her mother, Sridevi. Jr NTR expressed his surprise at her performance, saying, “She had a lot of apprehensions—how to speak Telugu, act, dance, and whether she could live up to Sridevi garu’s legacy. Let’s face it, Sridevi’s presence will always linger, and that pressure is inevitable for Janhvi. But she completely stunned us with her performance.”

About Devara: Part 1

Devara: Part 1 features an ensemble cast with Jr NTR, Saif Ali Khan, and Janhvi Kapoor in the lead roles. Jr NTR takes on dual roles as both Devara and Varadha, while Saif portrays the antagonist Bhaira and Janhvi plays Thangam. The film also stars Shruti Marathe, Prakash Raj, Srikanth, Shine Tom Chacko, and Narain in pivotal supporting roles. Devara: Part 1 is set to release in theaters on September 27.

This film marks Jr NTR’s first solo project in six years, following his 2018 release, Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava. It also introduces Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor to the Telugu film industry. While this is Janhvi’s debut, she has already signed on for another Telugu project with Ram.