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Aishwarya Rai likely to play the leading lady in Chiranjeevi’s Mega 158: Report

Megastar Chiranjeevi is gearing up for his 158th film, Mega 158, directed by Bobby Kolli, following his Sankranti release Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. Latest rumours suggest Bollywood diva Aishwarya Rai may join the cast in a key role.

January 08, 2026 / 12:14 IST
The latest rumours suggest that Bollywood diva Aishwarya Rai is likely to join the cast of Mega 158 for a crucial role.
Snapshot AI
  • Chiranjeevi to star in Mega 158, a rustic mass action drama by Bobby Kolli
  • Aishwarya Rai and Mohanlal rumored to join cast; no official confirmation yet
  • Oscar-winner A R Rahman may compose music for the film, confirmation awaited

Megastar Chiranjeevi is gearing up for another big project that has already created strong buzz since its announcement. After completing his upcoming Sankranti release Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, Chiranjeevi will team up with director Bobby Kolli for his 158th film popularly called Mega 158.

The latest rumours suggest that Bollywood diva Aishwarya Rai is likely to join the cast of Mega 158 for a crucial role.

According to reports,  Mega 158 will be made as a rustic mass action drama with strong emotions. The film will be produced by KVN Productions on a very large budget. A concept poster released earlier has already impressed fans by showing Chiranjeevi in a raw and intense look.

One of the biggest rumours around this project is about the casting. There is strong buzz that Bollywood star and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan might be seen in an important role. While it is not clear whether she will play a full-length role or a special appearance, the idea of seeing Chiranjeevi and Aishwarya Rai together on screen has thrilled fans across languages.

However, there is no official announcement regarding her boarding the film.

Reports suggest that Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman may be onboard as the music director. If this happens, it will be a big boost to the film as Rahman’s music is known to add depth and emotion to stories. However, official confirmation is still awaited.

Also read: Mohanlal exits Chiranjeevi's high-budget film after allegedly demanding Rs 30 crore for cameo

There is also talk about the presence of a senior star from another industry. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal is rumored to play a key role. If true, this multi-star combination will turn Mega 158 into a true pan-Indian project.

Director Bobby Kolli is also said to be making changes to the story to avoid similarities with recent films. The aim is to present Chiranjeevi in a fresh and powerful shade that audiences have not seen before.

Bhawana Tanmayi is a Hyderabad-based freelance entertainment journalist. Views expressed are personal.
first published: Jan 8, 2026 12:13 pm

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