Director Tharun Bhascker addresses Sai Sushanth's exit from ENE sequel

Director Tharun Bhascker has addressed Sai Sushanth Reddy's decision not to participate in the sequel to the 2018 film, Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi. News of Sushanth's departure followed the official announcement of the sequel, ENE Repeat, in June 2025.

Bhascker explained there was uncertainty about Sushanth's involvement from the start, even though his name appeared in early announcements. The director described his reaction, saying, "When Sushi called, and he said this, I just broke. First, I got angry. The reason is that he moved on towards his father's business. He told me he doesn't want one foot here and one there. And I respect that. But it came with a lot of anger and disappointment. I realised that each person has their own journey and it's not my call to take. I gave him the opportunity, and he respectfully rejected it," said Tharun Bhascker.

Sushanth chose to prioritise his family's business over acting. Bhascker acknowledged his frustration but also expressed understanding.

Despite the change, the director continued with the sequel. Srikanth Maganti now takes on the role previously played by Sushanth. Bhascker emphasised his commitment to the story and said, "I had a story to tell, and I am not going to stop. For me, Sushi might change, but Karthik is the same. And, when I'm seeing the footage right now, I see Karthik. And that's the magic of cinema. If I'm telling you that you'll only see Karthik, I think I'll succeed in doing that. I won't let you guys down," he said.

Online reactions supported the character's continuity, with comments like, "Karthik is the soul of ENE."

Others noted the parallels between the actor's real-life decision and the character's arc, with one user saying, "Movie manifested real life."

Announcing the sequel, Bhascker wrote, "Bro this is our vibe. To: Bro it's happening again. The Most iconic Kanya Raasi gang is BACK. #ENERepeat #ENE."

Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi became a cult favourite, following friends as they navigated personal and professional crossroads. The sequel, ENE Repeat, revisits these characters, now with Maganti as Karthik. The release date has not yet been confirmed.