The controversy emerged after Dhurandhar’s choreographer, Vijay Ganguly, said in an interview that Tamannaah’s name had been discussed during early planning for the song before director Aditya Dhar decided otherwise. The remarks triggered widespread reports that Tamannaah had been replaced by Krystle D’Souza and co-performer Ayesha Khan. Ganguly later clarified on social media that Tamannaah was never approached and that her name was only considered during preliminary discussions.
In an interview with the Free Press Journal, D’Souza responded to the chatter, rejecting any notion of rivalry. “I think she would have performed it wonderfully in her own style. She would have completely owned it,” she said, referring to Tamannaah. “Whether she was approached or not, I’m absolutely sure she would have done it brilliantly.”
D’Souza also defended her co-actor, saying each performer brings a distinct strength to the screen. “If only Ayesha was in the song, she would have done a great job too. If I were alone, I would have done it excellently as well. Everyone does what they can do best,” she said, adding that she respects artists who are self-made and consistently committed to their craft.
D’Souza cautioned against pitting actors against one another for publicity. “There’s enough sunshine for everyone; everyone should get a chance to shine,” she said. “You don’t have to bring others down to lift someone up. To promote one person, please don’t break someone else. You don’t know how deeply it can affect someone mentally.”
The song Shararat has been trending since the film’s release, drawing attention for its choreography and performances. Industry observers say the episode highlights how offhand remarks can quickly snowball into misleading narratives in the age of social media, often placing artists under unnecessary scrutiny.
Neither Tamannaah Bhatia nor director Aditya Dhar has commented further on the matter. With the clarification issued and D’Souza’s comments calling for perspective, the focus appears to be shifting back to the film’s reception rather than its casting process.
