Director C. Prem Kumar addressed persistent industry rumors regarding the casting of his cult-classic Tamil romantic drama 96, firmly clarifying whether star actress Jyotika was ever the initial choice for the iconic role of Janaki (Jaanu).
During an exclusive interview reflecting on the film’s enduring legacy and its special theatrical re-release, the filmmaker dismissed speculation about alternative leads, confirming that Trisha Krishnan was always his absolute first choice to play Jaanu opposite Vijay Sethupathi’s Ram.
Addressing the casting process and scheduling hurdles, Prem Kumar explained:
“Without a doubt, my first choice was Trisha. There were some date issues as she was working in several films and since I had Vijay Sethupathi’s dates, there was pressure from various sides to consider someone else. Then Trisha’s schedule was rearranged, and I was able to get her dates to match Sethu’s. Everything eventually fell into place.”
The director emphasized that while writing the screenplay during the Chennai floods in December 2015, he specifically visualized Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha in the lead roles. Their natural chemistry and nuanced performances went on to anchor the film’s poignant exploration of unfulfilled first love, school-day nostalgia, and emotional maturity.
