First look of Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandannas Ranabaali is out

Vijay Deverakonda in ‘Ranabaali’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The makers of Vijay Deverakonda’s 14th film, referred to as VD 14, revealed its title: Ranabaali. A video offering a glimpse into the world of the Telugu film was out on Monday. The film stars Rashmika Mandanna as the female lead and is directed by Rahul Sankrityan, who earlier helmed Taxiwaala and Shyam Singha Roy.

Ranabaali is produced by Mythri Movie Makers and is scheduled to release in multiple languages on September 11, 2026.

The video offers a peek into the ‘legend of the cursed land – 1878’ when the British ruled India. The story unfolds in drought-ridden areas of Rayalaseema. The cursed land refers to the suffering inflicted by the British, especially in regions deliberately turned into drought zones under officials like Sir Richard Temple. The story is set against the backdrop of a genocide worse than Hitler’s Holocaust and the economic exploitation of India, resulting in the death of over a 100 million in 40 years.

Vijay essays the character of Ranabaali and exudes a commanding presence, while Rashmika is cast as Jayamma. Arnold Vosloo plays the antagonist Sir Theodore Hector.

Rashmika Mandanna in the film | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Ranabaali is produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar, with T-Series presenting the film. According to the makers, the film is based on true events that unfolded in the 19th century, between 1850 and 1900, and will be a cinematic reconstruction of an era built from multiple real accounts, oral histories, and suppressed records.

The film marks the third collaboration between Vijay Deverakonda and Mythri Movie Makers after Dear Comrade and Kushi and Vijay and Rashmika’s third collaboration after Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade.

Ranabaali is written by Pramod Tammineni, will have music by Ajay-Atul, cinematography by Nirav Shah, production design by Shivam Rao Nagasani and will be edited by Karthika Srinivas R.