Raghava Lawrence steps into the legendary role of Karna in Ramesh Varma’s ambitious mythological epic Mahaveer Karna. Known for his horror-comedy hits and roots in choreography, Lawrence’s casting marks a major shift in his career. Produced by Pen Movies, Sri Neeladri Productions and RV Studios, the hybrid live-action film is eyed as a pan-India game-changer, targeting a 2027 worldwide release.
The team behind Mahaveer Karna has revealed Raghava Lawrence’s first look as the epic hero from the Mahabharata. Lawrence, an actor and director who starred in Ramesh Varma's Kaala Bhairava, is reuniting with the filmmaker on the new film. The movie is being touted as an epic mythological adventure and a game-changer for the genre.
Lawrence who gained popularity through his success in the Kanchana film series and is known for doing horror comedies in the South. He started with dance choreography before venturing out into films. Karna, an iconic character in Indian mythology, is unlike any previous role played by Lawrence, marking a major image shift for the actor-filmmaker.
Mahaveer Karna is positioned as an epic that blends live-action with some form of hybrid storytelling. The film is produced by Pen Movies and Sri Neeladri Productions in collaboration with RV Studios. Veteran producer Jayantilal Gada is also associated with the film.
The title of the film was revealed some time ago along plans to release it worldwide on December 4, 2026. However, according to recent reports, Mahaveer Karna might premiere sometime in 2027.
With Lawrence's look now confirmed, attention turns to the rest of the cast and crew, which the makers are expected to reveal in phases as the film moves closer to release.