‘Rao Bahadur’ First Look: Satya Dev Stuns in Royal Avatar for Mahesh Babu’s Latest Production
'Rao Bahadur,' which is eyeing a summer 2026 release, is written and directed by Venkatesh Maha.
Mahesh Babu and Namrata Shirodkar’s GMB Entertainment on Tuesday unveiled the first look of their latest feature, Rao Bahadur. The much-anticipated Telugu film is headlined by Satya Dev, who features in a new regal avatar in the striking first look poster.
The film is written, directed, and edited by Venkatesh Maha, who also helmed C/o Kancharapalem and Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya. Rao Bahadur is eyeing a summer 2026 release window.
Satya Dev took to X and posted the first look of the psychological drama, featuring him in a regal purple kurta, adorned with chunky rings and an ornate necklace. The actor's look evokes both royal elegance and a sense of mystery with the moody colour palette and intricate costume detailing. "Coming to you as a never-before Mental Mass Rao Bahadur”, Satyadev captioned.
The filmmaker described Rao Bahadur as a "Telugu story made for the world". According to a report in Variety, Satya Dev
said his transformation required significant commitment, with five hours in makeup in the morning. "It gave me the rare chance to disappear into the character completely. By the time we rolled, I wasn’t just playing Rao Bahadur, I was living him."
The film's first visual unit, billed as "Not Even a Teaser," will launch theatrically on August 15 on Independence Day, following which it will hit digital platforms.
Satyadev, who has built a strong reputation through performances in Bluff Master, Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya, and Godfather, seems to expand his range with the latest feature. His recent appearances include Vijay Deverakonda’s prison drama Kingdom and Prime Video’s Arabia Kadali.
The Rao Bahadur team is looking for a next year release, with plans for a wide theatrical opening, accompanied by subtitled international distribution. Meanwhile, Mahesh Babu is currently prepping for SS Rajamouli's globetrotting ambitious project, which will be officially announced in November. The film also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas.