Sreeleela has been known as the “replacement queen” for a while now. This label first appeared during the Guntur Kaaram production when she joined the cast after Pooja Hegde left. The pattern continued, with her often becoming the last-minute choice for various projects. Now, this same situation has quietly extended to Bollywood. Her next venture is Choomanthar, where Abhay Varma, known from Munjya, plays the male lead. Madak Films is producing this movie, and there’s already a noticeable buzz around it.
Reports suggest Sreeleela has taken Ananya Panday’s place in the film. Choomanthar is still in its early pre-production stages, but Ananya reportedly withdrew due to scheduling conflicts. Once her departure was confirmed, the production team quickly brought Sreeleela on board. Workshops are scheduled to begin soon. It will be interesting to observe how she handles a science fiction setting, as this genre is new for her, which might actually work to her advantage.
Ananya Panday, meanwhile, remains busy with her own projects. Her Christmas release, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, promises a Gen-Z aesthetic, featuring international filming locations, energetic music, a glamorous look, and the easy chemistry with Kartik Aaryan that fans enjoy watching repeatedly. She is clearly pursuing her career path in a different direction.
Sreeleela, however, appears to be building a substantial Bollywood presence without much fanfare. She has an untitled romantic drama with Kartik Aaryan and Anurag Basu set for 2026. Diler, co-starring Ibrahim Ali Khan, might go straight to an OTT platform. Additionally, a project with Varun Dhawan is rumored, and Dostana 2 is reportedly in pre-production with her name attached. If even a few of these projects come to fruition, she will be widely seen in 2026–27, without needing any replacements.