Actor Ram Pothineni turns director for his next film, first-look poster out
Hyderabad, May 16
Actor Ram Pothineni, who has ruled the big screens with his acting, is now set to become the director for his next film tentatively titled 'RAPO 23'. The actor has also revealed the first look poster of the movie.
Taking to his Instagram handle, Ram Pothineni announced his debut directorial venture while introducing his character poster for the movie. The actor is expected to play the role of a character named Veera in this psychological thriller film.
The film is produced by Krishna Pothineni under the banner of RAPO Cinematics. The movie is expected to release in theatres in December 2026.
While sharing the poster, the actor wrote, "An exciting journey begins with all your love & blessings. Introducing 'VEERA' in RAPO23. Genre: Psychological Action Thriller. Written & Directed by #RAPO. Produced by Krishna PothineniA @rapocinematics Production. December 2026 Release."
According to Film Trade Analyst Taran Adarsh, the film's shooting is scheduled to begin in June.
Ram Pothineni was last seen in the film 'Andhra King Taluka', which was directed by Mahesh Babu and also starred Upendra in the lead role.
The movie tells the story of a fan inspired by a superstar played by the Kannada actor Upendra. The movie also starred Bhagyashri Borse, Rao Ramesh and Murali Sharma in prominent roles.
The cinematography of the film was handled by Siddhartha Nuni, while the editing was done by A. Sreekar Prasad. It was released in 2025.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Actually, I'm skeptical. Actors turning directors often don't work well. Remember when Mahesh Babu directed? That was a disaster. But Ram is smart, maybe he'll prove us wrong. Let's wait and watch. 🤔
Excellent move! Ram has always been underrated as an actor. This psychological thriller genre is perfect for him to showcase his vision. Produced by his own family banner too - smart business decision. All the best bhai! 🙌
Ram Pothineni is such a versatile actor, and now he's adding director to his resume? That's the kind of evolution we need in Tollywood. The poster gives me 'Karthikeya 2' vibes but darker. Can't wait for June shooting to start!
December 2026? That's like 19 months away! 😅 Why announce so early? But hey, if it means quality work, I'm all for it. Hope Ram brings something unique to the table as a director.
Interesting to see Indian actors exploring direction. In Hollywood, actors-turned-directors like Ben Affleck have done well. Hope Ram pulls it off too. The psychological thriller space needs fresh perspectives.
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