The bilingual film Junior, starring Kiriti Reddy and Sreeleela, is all set to hit cinemas on July 18. The movie has gained attention in both the Telugu and Kannada film industries, especially as Kiriti is the son of well-known businessman Gali Janardhan Reddy.
Despite his wealth, Janardhan Reddy did not produce the film himself. Instead, he handed the responsibility to top producer Sai Korrapati, known for backing several hit Telugu films. Interestingly, Junior marks Korrapati’s comeback after being away from Tollywood for a while.
Actress Sreeleela, who plays the female lead, reportedly received a massive fee of ₹4 crore for the Junior. This is more than her usual pay of around ₹2 crore for working with established stars. Since Junior features a newcomer, her high remuneration has sparked discussion in Kannada film circles, with many saying it’s justified.
Superstar Shiva Rajkumar attended the Kannada pre-release event and wowed fans by dancing to a viral song from the film. In Telugu, there is talk that actor Jr. NTR will grace the pre-release event, which could create more buzz.
Sreeleela, who rose to national fame with her special number in Pushpa 2, adds to the hype. Also, actress Genelia makes her South Indian comeback with a key role in Junior, raising further interest.
With advance bookings strong in Karnataka and excitement building in Telugu states, Junior is gearing up for a grand opening this week.