Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Director Says Trisha Was Always His First Choice for 96
96 is a Tamil film about Ram and Jaanu, who shared a teenage love.
The director, C Prem Kumar, says he always pictured Trisha as Jaanu.
Some people suggested he might need to choose someone else because of scheduling problems.
But Trisha's schedule changed, and she could work around Vijay Sethupathi's dates.
Prem Kumar said Jyotika was not his original choice.
He wrote the story during the Chennai floods in 2015.
The film first came out in 2018 and has returned to cinemas several times.
The director says he is amazed that audiences still love it.
Director C Prem Kumar says Trisha was always his first choice to play Jaanu in 96.
He said scheduling conflicts briefly prompted pressure to consider another actor, but Trisha's dates were rearranged to match Vijay Sethupathi's.
Prem Kumar dismissed reports that Jyotika was initially approached for the role.
He wrote the script during the Chennai floods in December 2015, with Trisha and Vijay Sethupathi in mind.
The film, first released in 2018, returned to theatres for a third time on October 9.
- Who
- Director C Prem Kumar, and actors Trisha and Vijay Sethupathi.
- What
- Prem Kumar said Trisha was his first choice to play Jaanu in 96, rejecting reports that Jyotika was initially approached.
- When
- The film first released in 2018; its third re-release was on October 9, with no year specified.
- Where
- The re-release was in Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- Prem Kumar said he wrote the script with Trisha and Vijay Sethupathi in mind, and their schedules eventually aligned.
- Film
- 96
- Director
- C Prem Kumar
- Lead actors
- Trisha and Vijay Sethupathi
- First release
- 2018
- Third theatrical re-release
- October 9, in Tamil Nadu
- Script written
- During the Chennai floods in December 2015
- Director's casting clarification
- Prem Kumar said Trisha was always his first choice for Jaanu and dismissed reports that Jyotika was initially approached.