Director Venky Kudumula, best known for Chalo and Bheeshma, has now turned producer with Itlu Arjuna, his first project under the banner What Next Entertainments. The film introduces Aniesh in the lead role and is directed by debutant Mahesh Uppala, with Anaswara Rajan playing the female lead.
The film had already generated buzz with its title glimpse, which featured a voiceover by Akkineni Nagarjuna and received widespread appreciation. Marking Aniesh’s birthday, on Friday, the makers unveiled a special poster along with a video glimpse.
The newly-released video features Venky Kudumula sharing how Aniesh was finalized for the role of Arjun. Notably, the lead character does not have dialogues, as he is mute. This places the entire emotional weight of the film on expressions and body language.
With this video, the focus shifts from the character to the actor behind it. More than just an introduction, the glimpse subtly highlights Aniesh’s dedication and mindset as he takes on a demanding role. Arjun, the central character, communicates purely through emotions, making the performance heavily dependent on physicality and emotional depth. For a newcomer, it is a challenging choice, but Aniesh embraced it as an opportunity to push his limits.
The video reveals how Aniesh impressed the team during auditions and, even after understanding the complexity of the role, approached it with enthusiasm. He underwent extensive preparation — attending narrations, studying the character’s emotional arc, refining expressions, and fully internalizing the role before stepping onto the sets.
Rather than presenting Aniesh as just another debutant, the video reflects his sincerity toward the craft and his determination to prove himself through performance. Itlu Arjuna features music composed by S Thaman and cinematography by Raja Mahadevan.
