Shagna Sri Venun, who earlier played the female lead in Prabuthwa Junior Kalashala, is now making her directorial debut with the film Hello It’s Me. Varun Sandesh plays the lead role, while Shagna herself appears opposite him as the female lead. Darshan Madamanchi will be seen in another important role.
The film is produced by VSK Sanjeev, Vangapalli Sandeep, and Vangapalli Sankeerth under the banners S2S Cinemas and Shass Productions. Currently in the final stages of shooting, the makers unveiled the film’s title and first look poster at an event held in Hyderabad.
Speaking at the event, producer VSK Sanjeev said, “After announcing the film, many people from my circle questioned why a successful businessman would enter filmmaking, where there is no guarantee of success. Some also asked why we chose a female lead to direct the film. But when Shagna narrated the story, her passion was very clear. She has a strong determination to achieve something meaningful.”
He added that despite establishing herself as an actress, Shagna chose to take on the challenge of direction. “I wanted to support someone with such passion. Varun Sandesh is like a brother to us, and we will never forget his support. The entire team is working with great dedication. Seeing their commitment made me visit the sets every day. We are confident of releasing the film with strong content soon,” he said.
Sharing her experience, Shagna Sri Venun said, “This is my first film as a director, and I am making it with a strong story. Both boys and girls can relate to it, and the youth will connect deeply with the film. When the project was announced, there were negative comments about a female lead directing a film. But our producers trusted me and went ahead without paying attention to such doubts.”
She further said that direction has nothing to do with gender. “What matters is whether the scene comes out as imagined. For that, the support of the team is crucial, and I am fortunate to have such a supportive unit. Varun Sandesh supported me immensely. I narrated the story to him over several hours, and he listened patiently and cooperated fully. Only a few days of shooting are left,” she added.
Lead actor Varun Sandesh said, “My recent web series Nayanam received good appreciation. I have been doing thrillers continuously, and at such a time, I felt Hello It’s Me would be a refreshing, clean family love story. The film beautifully portrays the problems youth face due to misunderstandings. Shagna narrated the story in a very engaging way, and I immediately felt she would make a good film. Incidentally, Nayanam was also directed by a woman, Swathi, and it became a hit. I believe Shagna will continue that success.”
