Mohan Babu Says Srikanth Odela ‘Cheated’ Him Over The Paradise Role: What the Actor Revealed
Veteran actor Mohan Babu has shared an interesting behind-the-scenes story about his role as Shikanja Malik in The Paradise, the Nani-starrer directed by Srikanth Odela. While speaking about the film, Mohan Babu jokingly said that the director had “cheated” him because the character he eventually played turned out to be quite different from what he initially expected.
The remark has attracted attention because it offers a glimpse into how the senior actor approached one of the most intense characters of his recent career. His comments also highlight how a character can evolve significantly between the narration stage and the final version seen on screen.
Mohan Babu’s Original Understanding of the Role
According to Mohan Babu's account, Srikanth Odela initially narrated the character with certain elements that made the actor interested in taking up the project. One of the details discussed during the narration involved a female character and scenes connected to Shikanja Malik.
However, when production began, those portions did not develop in the way Mohan Babu had originally understood them. The actor said he questioned Odela about the change, and the director reportedly responded that he had changed the story.
It was in this context that Mohan Babu jokingly described the director as having “cheated” him. Importantly, the comments were presented in a light-hearted manner, rather than as a serious accusation of professional misconduct. Reports about the conversation also indicate that Nani and Srikanth Odela were present and reacted to the exchange with humour.
Shikanja Malik Was Far More Brutal Than Expected
The bigger revelation from Mohan Babu was about the nature of Shikanja Malik himself.
The actor has said that, despite his extensive career and hundreds of films, he had not previously played a character quite like this one. Shikanja Malik is portrayed as an extremely violent and ruthless antagonist, making the role substantially darker than what Mohan Babu apparently anticipated during the initial narration.
Mohan Babu even indicated that if he had fully understood the extent of the character's cruelty beforehand, he might have reconsidered accepting the role. Among the disturbing aspects associated with the character is violence against pregnant women, something the actor specifically referred to while discussing how extreme the role was.
That detail provides useful context for understanding why Mohan Babu described the character as an unusual challenge in his long acting career.
Why Did Mohan Babu Still Accept the Film?
Despite the unexpected changes, Mohan Babu ultimately completed the project. His comments suggest that his decision was influenced by both the story narrated by Srikanth Odela and his interest in working with Nani.
Mohan Babu has spoken positively about Nani's acting ability and dedication to the film. He also indicated that the opportunity to be part of a project involving Nani and Odela was an important factor in his decision.
The collaboration itself was notable because The Paradise reunited Nani and Srikanth Odela following their earlier film Dasara. Mohan Babu's involvement added another senior performer to the cast, with the actor taking on the central antagonist.
Srikanth Odela Pushed Mohan Babu During the Shoot
Mohan Babu has also spoken about the demanding nature of the filmmaking process.
In earlier comments about The Paradise, he described Odela as a director who pushed him to extract more from his performance. The actor mentioned that some scenes required numerous takes, with the director paying close attention to details such as facial expressions, intensity and the character's anger.
Mohan Babu compared this demanding approach with the working style of legendary filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao, whom he had worked with earlier in his career. At the same time, he praised Odela and expressed confidence in the young filmmaker's future.
This provides a different perspective on his latest “cheated” comment. Rather than suggesting a serious dispute between the actor and director, the broader comments show that Mohan Babu has repeatedly acknowledged Odela's commitment to getting the desired performance from him.
The Physical Demands of Shikanja Malik
The role was not challenging only because of its emotional intensity. Mohan Babu also discussed the physical demands involved in portraying Shikanja Malik.
The actor appeared in action sequences that required considerable physical effort, including a bare-body sequence. He has explained that he undertook exercise and preparation for the role despite the physical demands involved.
He also recalled shooting action portions in difficult weather conditions. These experiences underline how the character required more than simply delivering dialogue or appearing as a conventional villain.
What Mohan Babu’s Comments Reveal About The Paradise
Mohan Babu's story offers an interesting insight into the filmmaking process. A character described during an early narration does not necessarily remain identical through the entire production. Scripts can change, scenes can be removed or redesigned, and directors may alter character arcs while shooting.
In this case, the difference between the initial narration and the final version appears to have become part of the actor's experience with the film.
At the same time, the available reports do not establish that there was an actual professional dispute between Mohan Babu and Srikanth Odela. The “cheated” remark needs to be understood within the context of Mohan Babu's own light-hearted account of how the character evolved.
The Paradise Brings an Unusual Mohan Babu Character
The Paradise marks a particularly distinctive addition to Mohan Babu's filmography because Shikanja Malik is markedly darker and more brutal than many of the roles associated with his long career.
The film, directed by Srikanth Odela and starring Nani, was released in September 2026. It has generated discussion not only around its performances but also its violent tone and treatment of its characters. Reviews have been mixed, with some critics specifically discussing the film's violence and narrative execution.
For Mohan Babu, however, the experience appears to have been about accepting an unfamiliar challenge. His latest comments about being “cheated” by the director may have grabbed attention, but the larger story is about an actor discovering that the character he agreed to play was considerably more extreme than he initially expected—and choosing to see the demanding role through to completion.
