Rana Daggubati has revealed details of his upcoming film projects across Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu cinema under his banner Spirit Media. The slate includes a Hindi adaptation of Aravind Adiga's novel 'Last Man in the Tower' starring Manoj Bajpayee, alongside Tamil and Telugu titles. He aims to build a more democratic production company fostering new talent.
Rana Daggubati, known for his role as Bhallaladeva in Baahubali: The Epic, is expanding his production efforts through Spirit Media. In a recent interview, he outlined a diverse slate that marks his company's entry into Hindi cinema with an untitled feature starring Manoj Bajpayee. This project adapts Aravind Adiga's novel Last Man in the Tower and is nearing completion, with a release expected in early to mid-next year.
The lineup also features Kaantha, a Tamil period noir drama-thriller directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, starring Dulquer Salmaan and Daggubati. Set for theatrical release on November 14, the film promises a grand scale despite involving newer directors. Following closely, the Telugu rom-com Premante—produced by Sree Venkateswara Cinemas LLP with Daggubati's backing—will arrive two weeks after Kaantha.
Three Telugu projects round out the slate: Dark Chocolate, a pulpy dark-comedy thriller co-produced with Waltair Productions; Psych Siddharth, a youth-driven drama presented and distributed by Spirit Media; and Premante. Spirit Media has previously distributed films like All We Imagine As Light and Sabar Bonda.
Daggubati shared his vision for Spirit Media, emphasizing a shift post-Baahubali. "We've really moved forward in terms of what to achieve on-screen. But when it comes to production, mostly Indian entertainment companies have either been large networks or independent producers that have been there for generations, in some ways, more family-driven," he said. He seeks to create a "more democratic production company" akin to Western ecosystems, nurturing debut filmmakers and new talent. Over the next three to five years, he plans to significantly expand this initiative, building on his experience in visual effects, production—such as his 2004 film Bommalata—and acting.
Daggubati remains hands-on, particularly in script selection for Telugu and Tamil projects, drawing from two decades in the industry.
