Following the disappointing result of Prabhas starrer "The Raja Saab", director Maruthi is said to be facing a difficult phase in his career.
The setback has reportedly affected his chances of securing dates from top stars.
At the same time, he is unable to return to the kind of double-meaning romantic entertainers he made earlier in his career with younger actors, putting him in a challenging position after directing a big-budget star film.
Although Maruthi recently stated that he would be directing megastar Chiranjeevi, sources suggest that this combination is unlikely to materialize at the moment.
Adding to this, several fans of Chiranjeevi have been voicing their opinions online, urging the megastar to collaborate with filmmakers who bring fresh ideas and have a strong success record.
Many fans are clearly not in favor of a collaboration with Maruthi, believing that senior stars should work with proven and innovative directors.
Moreover, Chiranjeevi may not be considering this project at present, as he has already signed a film with director Bobby and is expected to complete that commitment first.
This further reduces the possibility of a Maruthi and Chiranjeevi collaboration in the near future.