he was good when he was portrayed as Villian.. but but he failed to impress with Emotional and romantic scenes...
i used to watch it... but left in between...
That is why I think he was actually chosen for negative lead. But he got more popular than the positive one.
Anyways if he is good in negative scenes, then he is fit for the character na.
So he was always chosen from the day the news came about him. From his TC interview it seems CV's delayed his track and he waited. But at that time he tweeted saying he had some family problems. So not entering the show. Maybe CV's didn't want to bring two villians in the show. So they end Ballu character to bring him.