Actor Sumanth has publicly confirmed multiple times that director Puri Jagannadh first narrated the story of Desamuduru (2007) to him and offered him the lead role. Sumanth turned it down because he felt he was not the right fit for the character, which came with a massy edge.
Sumanth, who used to do mostly softer roles (such as in Godavari and Satyam), has said that if he had done Desamuduru it would likely have been a flop, and that it became a big hit specifically because Allu Arjun played the role with the right energy and style. He has no regrets about rejecting it.
Sumanth has also clarified on social media that Desamuduru (along with Nuvve Kavali) was one of the few major films actually offered to him that he declined.
Sumanth has, in recent years, acted in titles such as Sita Ramam and Kapatadhaari. His most recent theatrical release is Newton's 3rd Law.
