Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jul 17: Popular actress Genelia D’Souza, who once ruled South Indian cinema before shifting focus to Bollywood post marriage, is all set to make her grand comeback to the South with the Kannada-Telugu bilingual film Junior, starring debutant Kiriti Reddy. The movie is slated for release on July 18.

In an interview with TV9, Genelia proudly revealed her coastal roots, stating, “I am a Mangalurean girl. That is my hometown. I began my journey in South Indian films before moving on to Hindi. After acting alongside stalwarts like Shivarajkumar, I am now making a return through Junior.”

Genelia, known for her endearing performances in Tamil and Telugu blockbusters, was widely adored by South Indian audiences. Her last appearance in a South film was the 2012 Telugu movie Naa Ishtam, released the same year she tied the knot with Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh. After a 13-year hiatus, the actress is now ready to grace South Indian screens once again.

The film Junior features a star-studded cast including Ravichandran and Srileela, and is being presented by noted politician Janardhan Reddy’s son, Kiriti Reddy. Noted filmmaker SS Rajamouli, who had previously directed Genelia in the sports drama Sye, was present at the film’s promotional event.

Praising the actress, Rajamouli remarked, “Time may pass, but Genelia remains the same. We’ve known her for years, and her energy is still infectious. I asked Senthil if we’ll see a new version of Genelia in Junior, and he said yes—I’m looking forward to it.”

In response, Genelia expressed her gratitude, saying, “Your words are truly humbling, sir. They mean a lot to me and are deeply inspiring.”

Having worked in multiple languages including Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi, Genelia was widely regarded as a Pan-India star even before the term became popular. With Junior, she reclaims her space in the South Indian film industry, and fans are eagerly awaiting her return to the silver screen.