A little-known factoid is that Jr NTR's Simhadri was not supposed to be directed by SS Rajamouli. Producer Doraswamy Raju launched the movie in 2002 with Pavans Sridhar as the director.
Forty days passed and it dawned upon the producer that the execution and treatment didn't match Jr NTR's stature. Since Vijayendra Prasad was the story-writer, Rajamouli's name was considered. The hitherto-shot portions were junked and the project was taken over by Rajamouli.
Simhadri, released in 2003, was a blockbuster. Co-starring Bhumika Chawla, Ankitha and Mukesh Rishi, it had music by MM Keeravani. The careers of both Jr NTR and Rajamouli might have shaped differently had Simhadri been a flop or was not taken over by the director.
