Dear Comrade, the upcoming action-drama film starring Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna, is all set for its theatrical release next week in four languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada.

Reports suggest that Premam fame Sai Pallavi was initially offered Rashmika's role in Dear Comrade. However, she rejected the offer as she was uncomfortable doing intimate scenes, one of which involved a liplock with Vijay Deverakonda. The makers then decided to rope in Rashmika Mandanna, Vijay Deverakonda's Geeta Govindam co-star, for the role. The trailer that was recently released featured an intense kissing scene between the lead pair. On being asked about the same, Vijay Deverakonda reportedly said, "I don't like the word - lip-lock. You guys write about objectification... it's kissing... it's an emotion like anger... when we cry it is an emotion, when we kiss it is an emotion and it's not lip-locking... whenever I read lip-lock... I'm like what the f**k...I really dislike it."

Jointly produced by Big Ben Cinemas and Mythri Movie Makers, Dear Comrade is directed by Bharat Kamma and is scheduled to hit the screens on July 26.