After much speculation that Mrunal Thakur was in talks to star opposite Simbu in his 49th film, the production team has now officially announced the female lead.

On Simbu’s birthday, three exciting new project announcements were made, one of which was his much-anticipated STR49. Reports suggest that in this film, Simbu will portray a college student, and he is set to grow a beard for the role.

Now, it's official — Kayadu Lohar has been confirmed as the heroine of STR49! Kayadu recently impressed audiences with her performance in the blockbuster Dragon, and her growing popularity has made her a rising star in the industry.

The Kollywood circle is buzzing with excitement, celebrating Kayadu as the lucky actress teaming up with mass star Simbu. Adding more star power, it’s also confirmed that Santhanam will play a significant role in the movie.

STR49 will be directed by Ramkumar Balakrishnan, known for his hit film Parking, with music composed by Sai Abhi Nayangar. Shooting is set to kick off in just a few weeks, and fans are eagerly counting down the days.

Welcoming the leading lady of #STR49 - @11Lohar ❤️

Elated to have her onboard the project🩷

More updates on the way🧨🔥@SilambarasanTR_ @AakashBaskaran @ImRamkumar_B @SaiAbhyankkar pic.twitter.com/1n73KqXTMF

— DawnPictures (@DawnPicturesOff) April 27, 2025