The relationship between Mahesh Babu and Jayanth C Paranji go beyond filmi connections.

They are as close as any two friends could be.

Mahesh Babu had hit off with Jayanth ever since he did Takkari Donga. Though the film came a cropper, the duo's friendship flourished.

Jayant C had a lot of hand in Mahesh and Namratha's relationship stabilizing and eventually convincing his family for the wedding.

When Mahesh's family threw a party to a close circle of friends, it was Jayanth's wife who almost played the host.

Such being their relationship, it is no surprise that when Jayanth now wants to turn a producer he wants to cast Mahesh in the lead.

It may be recalled that Jayanth has had a poor run as a director in recent times. Though Shankar Dada MBBS did well, it was, for all practical purposes, Chiru's film. Sakhiya was a complete wash out.

Currently, he is directing Balakrishna in PB Arts Film. But he is clear in his mind now that he is better off producing films.

After producing a film with Mahesh in the lead, Jayanth will then make films with directors Prabhu Deva and Revathy under his GFC Synergies banner.

It would be Revathy's first Telugu film as director. She has already done the English film Mitr and the Hindi film Phir Milenge. For Prabhu Deva, this will be a confirmation of his growth as a director.

For Jayanth himself, this is confirmation of the growth of the producer in him.