Ram Pothineni Directorial Debut Gears Up With Big Casting Buzz
Ustaad Ram Pothineni is stepping into a brand-new role with his upcoming film, tentatively titled #RAPO23. Announced on his birthday, the project marks his directorial debut while he also plays the lead character, 'Veera', described as a lone wolf. The film is a psychological action thriller, a genre rarely explored in Telugu cinema, and will be produced by his brother Krishna Pothineni under the newly launched Rapo Cinematics banner.
The makers unveiled a dark, gritty poster featuring Ram in a leather jacket with a bold red “V” in the backdrop, symbolizing Veera’s rebellious and intense persona. Shooting is expected to begin in June, with a planned theatrical release in December 2026..With this move, Ram joins the league of stars-turned-directors like Sr. NTR, Krishna, and Pawan Kalyan. After surprising fans as a lyricist and singer in his previous film Andhra King Taluka, the actor is now donning the director’s hat to tell what he calls “the story of a lone wolf”. The project promises a stylish, intense narrative and has already generated strong buzz across the industry.
The casting buzz around #RAPO23 is equally intense. KGF fame Srinidhi Shetty is reportedly in talks to play the female lead opposite Ram Pothineni. If finalized, this pairing would bring fresh energy to the psychological thriller setup and add significant pan-India appeal to the project. On the antagonist front, the team initially approached Malayalam star Fahadh Faasil for the powerful negative role. However, discussions did not move forward due to remuneration and scheduling conflicts.
The makers are now in advanced talks with veteran actor-director SJ Suryah, popularly known as ‘Nadippu Arakkan’. Known for his ability to slip into any character, Suryah is being considered the perfect fit for the film’s cruel, intense villain role. Sources suggest that remuneration and call-sheet discussions with Suryah are currently underway. With Ram Pothineni writing, directing, and starring Srinidhi Shetty as female lead , SJ Suryah likely as the antagonist, #RAPO23 is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious and closely watched projects in Tollywood.
