EXCLUSIVE: Rashmika Mandanna resumes shooting for Allu Arjun’s Raaka; Karan Mehta also joins the cast
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Rashmika was initially supposed to join the sets in August, but her shooting schedules were reshuffled after she suffered a severe right hip tendon detachment while filming a dance sequence for Mysaa. She has fully recovered now and commenced Raaka ’s shooting yesterday alongside Allu Arjun. However, she will shoot for only a few days, with her full-fledged portions set to start next month. Both Allu and Rashmika are expected to movie several key action sequences together for what marks their second collaboration following the smash hit success of the Pushpa franchise.
Adding to this, Bollywood Hungama has also learned that Karan Mehta has joined the ensemble of this Pan-India action spectacle. Mehta made his Bollywood debut with Anurag Kashyap’s 2023 musical romantic drama Almost Pyaar With DJ Mohabbat, and before that, he assisted Rahul Dholakia on Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees. He has been roped in to play a key role in Raaka and has already started shooting.
Meanwhile, Billed as a large-scale fantasy actioner set in a parallel universe, Atlee's Raaka features a star-studded Pan-India ensemble that includes Allu Arjun, Deepika Padukone, Mrunal Thakur, Rashmika Mandanna, and Janhvi Kapoor. Ramya Krishnan, Yogi Babu, and Jim Sarbh also play pivotal roles in this Sun Pictures production. Although several reports have claimed that Gatta Kusthi star Aishwarya Lekshmi is also part of the cast, sources have clarified that she’s not associated with the movie.
Notably, Raaka is one of the most anticipated films for two primary reasons. It marks Allu Arjun’s first project following the Pushpa franchise that cemented his position as one of India’s biggest superstars. Secondly, it's his first collaboration with Atlee, who's coming off after the massive success of Jawan, his debut Hindi movie starring Shah Rukh Khan that grossed nearly Rs. 1150 crores worldwide. Raaka is expected to be wrapped up by the first quarter of 2027, with a late 2027 theatrical rollout in the frame.
Source: Bollywood Hungama