Fahadh Faasil's menacing performance as Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat in Pushpa became one of the franchise's biggest highlights. But surprisingly, he wasn't the original choice for the role that became one of the most acclaimed antagonists in Indian cinema. Actor Nara Rohith has now revealed that the makers initially approached him to play the smart, ruthless police officer.

In a recent interview with M9 News, Nara Rohith confirmed that he was the first to be approached for the role of Shekhawat. He recalled,

“I had posted some photos with a moustache during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ravi Shankar Garu and Sukumar Garu spoke to me about the role. But later, as the timeline of the film changed, they opted for Fahadh.”

Rohith admitted he was interested in the part but added with humility,

“I don’t know if I could’ve done what Fahadh did. After watching him, I felt—he truly nailed it.”

Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, the antagonist in Pushpa: The Rise and Pushpa: The Rule, is portrayed as a power-drunk, casteist police officer who locks horns with Allu Arjun's character, Pushpa Raj. The character’s intelligence and psychological intimidation added a new dimension to the typical hero-villain rivalry in Telugu cinema.

The Pushpa series, made over five years, has become a massive box office juggernaut, with Pushpa 2: The Rule crossing ₹1800 crore in worldwide earnings. Fahadh Faasil’s portrayal of Shekhawat became a cornerstone of that success.