Akhil Akkineni To Dance With Ananya Panday?

Young actor Akhil Akkineni may be matching dance steps with Bollywood actress Ananya Panday in his upcoming film Lenin. While nothing has been officially confirmed, a source says discussions are underway, adding that the foot-tapping special song is expected to be one of the highlights of the action drama.

Ananya Panday was earlier seen in the Telugu film Liger opposite Vijay Deverakonda, which failed to make an impact at the box office. “A catchy song in a big Telugu film can give her stronger leverage this time,” the source feels.

Set against the backdrop of honour killings in the Rayalaseema region, the film directed by Murali Kishore Abburu and produced by Nagarjuna Akkineni and Naga Vamsi, has Bhagyashri Borse as the female lead and is targeting a summer 2026 release.

“Akhil will be seen in a rugged and intense role. The portions where he romances Bhagyashri Borse are expected to add an emotional layer to this hard-hitting film,” the source says.

Several Bollywood actresses, including Malaika Arora, Nora Fatehi and Pooja Hegde, have featured in special songs in big-ticket Telugu films of late. Industry insiders note that such appearances have become more of a necessity than a choice. Agreeing with this view, the source says, “special songs featuring popular actresses are now seen as a commercial tool to widen a film’s reach.”