Riteish Deshmukh is stepping into Telugu cinema for the first time. The actor has joined #RAPO23, the new project from Ram Pothineni, who is directing the film and also playing the lead. The announcement came as the team continues its Hyderabad schedule.
A familiar Bollywood face crosses over
Riteish has built his career mainly in Hindi movies, with recent credits including Ek Villain, Raid 2 and Raja Shivaji. #RAPO23 changes that. The makers say he agreed to come on board after being impressed by the script and the role written for him, and they have described his part as pivotal to the story.
The first look is still being protected. A behind-the-scenes video shared by the makers keeps Riteish’s face out of frame, but it does catch the mood: he arrives on set, and Ram welcomes him with a hug.
Why #RAPO23 carries extra weight
This is a double first. It is Riteish’s debut in Telugu films and Ram Pothineni’s first time directing, even as he leads the cast. Produced by Krishna Pothineni under the Rapo Cinematics banner, the film is being mounted on a large scale and is set in a neo-noir world.
The talent attached signals the scale the team is aiming for:
- Cinematography: Thirunavukarasu, known as Tirru
- Production design: AS Prakash
- Music: Sam CS
- Action: Peter Hein, Vikram Mor and Kevin
Samyuktha plays the female lead, with further key roles still to be announced.
The fan’s view: what this casting does
For Hindi cinema followers, Riteish crossing into Telugu is another sign of how fluid casting has become across film industries. A known Bollywood name can widen the conversation around a regional project, while the actor gets a new register to play in.
A neo-noir setting also suggests a different Riteish. Instead of the lighter comic roles many fans know him for, the film could place him in a grittier, more stylised space. The makers are not revealing character details yet, and the decision to hide his look in the first BTS clip feels deliberate: it lets the announcement land now and saves the fuller reveal for a poster or teaser later.
What to watch for next
Early casting announcements like this confirm that a project is active and shooting without giving away its visual world. For #RAPO23, the first behind-the-scenes video does that job: it shows Ram on set with Riteish, but frames the newcomer so his costume, styling and look remain unseen.
Shooting is currently underway in Hyderabad. No release date or further cast details have been shared, so the next natural beats are a character reveal and a first teaser.
Source: bollywoodHungama.com