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Senior actor Rajasekhar appears ready to begin a new chapter in his career by embracing negative and character-driven roles. After realizing the challenges of balancing lead-hero responsibilities, lengthy shooting schedules, and box-office expectations, the veteran actor has reportedly shown interest in shifting toward antagonist roles, which often offer strong screen presence with comparatively shorter commitments.

Rajasekhar recently took a step in that direction by playing a father’s role in Sharwanand’s Biker, signaling his willingness to explore diverse characters beyond the conventional hero image.

For quite some time, Rajasekhar has openly expressed his desire to play a villain opposite top stars such as Chiranjeevi and Prabhas. Now, reports suggest that his wish may finally be coming true with Rowdy Janardhana, starring Vijay Deverakonda.

According to industry buzz, the makers initially approached Vijay Sethupathi for the antagonist’s role. However, the actor reportedly declined the offer despite being offered a substantial remuneration. Sources suggest that Sethupathi is currently not keen on taking up negative roles, prompting the team to look for an alternative.

The makers are now said to have finalized Rajasekhar for the role, which could mark his return to playing a full-fledged antagonist after several decades. Interestingly, one of his most notable negative-shaded performances came in the film Talambralu, released nearly three decades ago.

If the reports prove true, Rajasekhar will be entering a space where several former heroes, including Jagapathi Babu, Srikanth, and S. J. Suryah, have successfully reinvented themselves as powerful antagonists. The role could provide Rajasekhar with an opportunity to showcase a completely different side of his acting abilities and establish himself in a new phase of his career.