Dhanush’s D55 locks Sreeleela as lead, fans wonder why not Sai Pallavi or Mrunal Thakur

Tamil superstar Dhanush is lining up another ambitious project with filmmaker Rajkumar Periasamy, tentatively titled D55. Known for experimenting with fresh collaborations, the actor is set to share screen space with Sreeleela, marking a brand-new on-screen pairing.

While the casting brings novelty and excitement, many fans had pictured either Sai Pallavi or Mrunal Thakur stepping into the role - expectations that made the announcement all the more surprising.

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Sreeleela Officially Comes On Board

The reveal came through Wunderbar Films on X, where the production house introduced Sreeleela as the film’s female lead with cheerful snapshots from the team meet. Dressed in a pastel-toned suit, she stood beside Dhanush, welcomed warmly with a bouquet, symbolising her entry into the project.

The caption read, "You didn't see this coming (wink face emoji). Welcoming the dazzling damsel @sreeleela14 on board #D55 (fire emoji)." (sic)

Director Rajkumar Periasamy also shared his excitement, writing, “Happy to have the energetic and talented @sreeleela14 on board for #D55 along @dhanushkraja sir & the team. This will be special (folded hands emoji).”

Fans React: ‘We Expected...’

The casting quickly set social media abuzz. While some celebrated the fresh combination, many admitted they were rooting for different names.

One comment read, "Everyone expected Sai Pallavai." (sic)

Another said, "We thought it would be Sai Pallavi or Mrunal Thakur." (sic)

A third user wrote, "Everyone expecting Sai Pallavi or Mrunal Thakur, but Sreelela comes out of the syllabus." (sic)

The reactions reflect how strongly audiences had imagined Sai Pallavi’s grace or Mrunal Thakur’s screen presence opposite Dhanush - making Sreeleela’s inclusion a genuine surprise.

A ‘Grand New Beginning’ for the Team

Earlier, Wunderbar Films described D55 as a "grand new beginning", confirming their collaboration with R Take Studios. Music duties have been handed to Sai Abhyankkar, adding another exciting creative force to the mix.

The banner shared, “Time’s up. The SAI-lence breaks. Excited to have the sensational @SaiAbhyankkar as the music composer for #D55. D55 - A #SaiAbhyankkar Musical. A brand new collaboration loading.” (sic)

With a new cast pairing and a fresh musical direction, expectations around the project continue to rise.

Also Check: Mrunal Thakur–Dhanush wedding rumours debunked: No February 2026 wedding on the cards

Sreeleela’s Growing Filmography

Sreeleela was last seen in Parasakthi (2026), a Tamil political action drama directed by Sudha Kongara, alongside Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, and Atharvaa. She also has Anurag Basu’s untitled film with Kartik Aaryan in the pipeline, steadily expanding her presence across industries.

Now, D55 could mark one of the most significant milestones in her career.