Actress Shagna Sri Venun, who won appreciation as a heroine with the film Government Junior College, is now taking a confident leap behind the camera. She has turned director with Hello It’s Me, in which Varun Sandesh plays the lead role while Shagna herself appears as the female lead. Darshan Madamanchi will be seen in another key role. Currently in the final stages of shooting, the film’s title and first look poster were officially launched at a grand event held in Hyderabad.
Speaking at the launch, hero Varun Sandesh said that after doing thrillers back-to-back, Hello It’s Me came as a refreshing change for him. He described it as a clean family love film that beautifully highlights the problems youth face due to misunderstandings. He recalled being deeply impressed by Shagna’s narration and said he instantly believed she would make a good film. Varun also expressed confidence that audiences who still cherish songs from his earlier hits like Kotha Bangaru Lokam and Happy Days would find a similar musical connect here, praising music director Vamsikanth Rekhana for delivering excellent songs.
Darshan Madamanchi said he was instantly drawn to the story and immediately wanted to perform his character. He noted that such opportunities do not come often and that it took him several years to land a role like this. He confidently stated that Hello It’s Me would leave a lasting impression and make audiences remember the entire cast.
Producer VSK Sanjeev addressed the doubts he faced when he announced the project. He said many people questioned why a successful businessman would enter filmmaking, a field with no guaranteed success, and why they chose a heroine as the director. "However, all those doubts disappeared once Shagna narrated the story, as her passion and determination were clearly visible. After becoming a heroine, she did not stop striving and instead chose to direct a film, which inspired me to support her wholeheartedly. Varun Sandesh is a brother-like figure and has been of great support," the producer added.
Producer Vangapalli Sandeep echoed similar sentiments, stating that it was not easy for Shagna to manage dual responsibilities as both heroine and director, yet she worked extremely hard. He said Varun Sandesh joining the project doubled their excitement and emphasized that music played a vital role in the film, with all six songs composed by Vamsikanth standing out.
Sharing her thoughts, heroine-turned-director Shagna Sri Venun said this was her first film as a director and that she was making it with a strong, relatable story. She expressed confidence that every boy and girl would connect with the film, especially the youth. Shagna acknowledged that when the film was announced, there was negativity around a heroine directing a film, but she said her producers trusted her and ignored such doubts. She strongly stated that there is no gender difference in direction and that what truly matters is whether a scene turns out as imagined. Thanking her team, she said such execution was only possible because of their support. She expressed special gratitude to Varun Sandesh.
Dr. Bhadram said he was impressed by Varun’s performance while working on Ninda and was confident audiences would appreciate his acting in this film as well. He noted that Shagna made the film with immense dedication and added that though the producers are successful businessmen, they entered cinema purely out of passion. Actor Jaswanth felt the film carried an important message, saying that after watching it, both boys and girls would understand what mistakes to avoid in life. He was confident that Shagna would earn a strong reputation as a director through this project. For actress Nandini, Hello It’s Me marks her debut. She expressed her joy at sharing screen space with Varun Sandesh, calling him her favourite hero and describing the opportunity as a dream start to her acting career.
Cinematographer Brahmateja Maripudi spoke about Shagna’s tireless effort, saying she handled the film like a one-woman army. He recalled how the team continued night shoots despite extremely cold weather and added that the performances by the actors would be a major highlight of the movie. Music director Vamsikanth Rekhana explained that the film reflects how today’s youth should and should not behave. He said his excitement grew after Varun Sandesh came on board and revealed that the actor liked all the songs very much, calling music the soul of the film.
The technical crew includes costumes by Darshit, choreography by Shravan Muppiri, editing by Chota K Prasad.
