Actor-director Arjun Sarja is set to return to direction with Seetha Payanam, scheduled for release on 14 February. The film marks the Telugu debut of his daughter, Aishwarya Arjun, while Niranjan steps in as the male lead after Vishwak Sen exited the project due to differences.

Addressing the change in casting, Arjun clarified that the script was originally conceived with Vishwak Sen in mind. However, he emphasised that the story remained untouched despite the shift. “Yes, we had considered Vishwak Sen for the role. But sometimes things don’t go as planned. However, we did not change even a single scene in the script. Niranjan stepped in for the role. There are no issues with Vishwak Sen; everything is settled. Life comes full circle — there are no hard feelings, no grudge. If circumstances align in the future, we could certainly collaborate again,” he said.

Explaining why he decided to do a Telugu film with his daughter, Arjun noted the affection he has received from Telugu audiences over the years. He also dismissed the notion that only sons should carry forward a cinematic legacy, asserting that daughters deserve equal opportunity.

Arjun revealed that the idea for Seetha Payanam had been with him for over a decade and was developed into a meaningful launch vehicle for Aishwarya. He and his nephew Dhruva Sarja will appear in cameo roles.

Looking ahead, Arjun said he prefers directing at this stage and is preparing a full-fledged action film. He also expressed interest in making a sequel to Hanuman Junction and re-releasing Gentleman, which he believes remains relevant today. (With inputs from Agencies)