Allari Naresh Turned Down Karthikeya Because Of One Fear

Sometimes, what an actor refuses shapes his career as much as what he accepts. The 2014 mystery thriller Karthikeya became a surprise sensation in Tollywood, turning Nikhil Siddhartha into a household name. Made on a small budget of just six crores, it collected over twenty crores and built a cult following for its thrilling mix of suspense and mythology. But here’s something few know, the story first went to Allari Naresh.

Director Chandoo Mondeti had originally narrated Karthikeya to Naresh, and the actor reportedly loved the story. Still, he chose not to do it. The reason wasn’t creative differences or scheduling problems, it was snakes. Since the film’s plot revolved around a temple in Subrahmanyapuram and featured several scenes involving snakes, Naresh, who has a deep fear of them, decided to step away. He later admitted in an interview that even watching snakes on screen makes him uneasy.

When Karthikeya was finally released with Nikhil in the lead, it not only became a box-office hit but also set a new direction for Telugu thrillers. The success led to Karthikeya 2, which gave Nikhil national fame. Looking back, fans still wonder what the film might have looked like if Naresh had taken it up, it could have completely changed the course of his filmography.

Naresh himself once said that his serious role as Ravi Shankar in Maharshi helped break the belief that he could only do comedy. That performance gave him the courage to take up stronger, more emotional characters. Still, he insists he won’t give up on fun roles. Whether it’s laughter or intensity, Naresh seems to have found his balance, as long as no snakes are involved.