At the 'Thandel' pre-release event, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga revealed his admiration for lead actress Sai Pallavi and her casting challenges due to her reluctance to wear sleeveless outfits and perform romantic scenes. Praising her integrity, he mentioned she was initially considered for 'Arjun Reddy'. 'Thandel', based on real-life fisherman events, releases February 7, 2025.