Telugu director Puri Jagannadh has claimed that Jr NTR’s upcoming movie Jai Lava Kusa is filched from an idea he had recently discussed with the actor. Jr NTR has a triple role in the September 21 release, which has been directed by KS Ravindra.

According to an unnamed source in a Times of India report, Jagannadh called Jr NTR a “script chor” on the sets of the movie he is currently directing, Paisa Vasool.

“Jr NTR has a triple role in Jai Lava Kusa,” the source told the newspaper. “The character of Jai, who is a devotee of Raavan and has a negative streak in him, is seen stammering in the teaser. Interestingly, Puri and Jr NTR were supposed to do a film together and had discussed a similar character during their meeting last December. This cannot be mere coincidence.”

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Jagganadh’s proposed collaboration with Jr NTR was shelved after creative differences. The actor and director have previously collaborated on the Telugu hit Temper in 2015.

KS Ravindra, the director of Jai Lava Kusa, dismissed the allegation. “This idea of getting one of the avatars of NTR to stammer was part of my original script,” he told TOI. “I am not aware of anyone else having discussed any such character with him. The film will speak for itself, I don’t have to clarify.”