'Lokah' casting: Kalyani Priyadarshan REVEALS Basil Joseph was the first choice

Actress Kalyani Priyadarshan has revealed an interesting casting detail about 'Lokah-Chapter One: Chandra,' amid several rumors that a popular actor was supposed to play the role of Naslen in the lead role that surfaced online.Speaking at The Hollywood Reporter India Actors Round Table, Kalyani said that actor-director Basil Joseph was the first choice for a key role in the film. “The first person who told me that I should do this film was Basil. In the beginning, Basil was supposed to play a role in Lokah. But he didn’t have dates,” Kalyani shared.

The role that changed hands

Kalyani explained that Basil’s busy schedule led to changes in the casting plan. As per reports, Basil was initially considered for the role of Sunny, a character that was later played by Naslen.

Basil’s fun reply

Reacting to Kalyani’s comment, Basil Joseph replied in a cheerful way. With a smile, he said, “There are four more parts coming, right? I’ll surely come in one of them.”Earlier the 'Dude' actress Mamitha Baiju had also expressed interest in being part of the 'Lokah' universe.

A film that felt different

Kalyani also spoke about how Lokah felt very different from regular Malayalam films. Because of its unique style and storytelling, the team was unsure how the audience would react.

This uncertainty made everyone nervous as the release date came closer.

Release-day fear and nervous waiting

Sharing a personal moment, Kalyani said the tension peaked on the day of release. “We were very nervous up until the day of release. On the day of the release, I and Naslen didn’t step out. We were in our rooms, hoping that people don’t say anything bad about us,” she said. The fear was not just about the film’s fate but also about how their performances would be judged.Despite all the worries, 'Lokah-Chapter One: Chandra' turned into a massive success.