India’s Sun Pictures has unveiled the title of its large-scale fantasy-action collaboration between director Atlee, Allu Arjun and Deepika Padukone: “Raaka.”
The announcement came Wednesday, on Arjun’s birthday, accompanied by a title poster that leans into dark, creature-driven imagery.
Atlee, whose credits include the Shah Rukh Khan blockbuster “Jawan” as well as Tamil-language hits “Mersal” and “Bigil,” described the project as a long-gestating passion. “‘Raaka’ isn’t just a film… it’s a part of me I’ve carried for years. For 18 years, I held on to one idea, never letting it fade. It tested me, shaped me, and stayed with me through everything. And honestly… this is just the beginning,” he said.
Sun Pictures, the Chennai-based production banner, said the film represents its highest ambitions for Indian cinema’s international reach. “Sun Pictures is privileged to bring together the singular storytelling of Atlee and the iconic stature of Allu Arjun in a project built for the world,” the company said in a statement.
Arjun, who won the Indian National Film Award for best actor for his performance in “Pushpa: The Rise,” arrives at “Raaka” off the back of a franchise that reshaped Indian cinema’s commercial landscape. The first “Pushpa” film, directed by Sukumar and co-starring Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil, grossed some $42 million worldwide on its 2021 release. Its 2024 sequel, “Pushpa 2: The Rule,” collected approximately $194 million globally, making it the third-highest-grossing Indian film of all time behind “Dangal” and “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion.”
Padukone, who previously worked with Atlee on “Jawan” opposite Shah Rukh Khan, joins the project as female lead – her first collaboration with Arjun. Her casting was announced by Sun Pictures last year.
