Renowned Bollywood actor Akshaye Khanna officially joined the sets of the upcoming film ‘Mahakali’, marking his highly anticipated debut in Telugu cinema. The actor arrived at the production location in Hyderabad to begin filming for this high-budget venture, which features him in a pivotal role alongside lead actress Sai Pallavi. This career move comes immediately after the massive commercial triumph of the action thriller Dhurandhar, which recently broke North American box-office records.
The timing of Khanna’s transition to the South Indian film industry is significant, occurring amidst widespread reports of a production fallout regarding ‘Drishyam 3’. While fans were eager for his return to that franchise, creative differences reportedly led to a hiatus in development, allowing the actor to pivot towards new regional opportunities in early 2026. By joining Mahakali, Khanna follows a growing trend of Hindi film stars expanding into Tollywood.
Directed by a prominent filmmaker and slated for a late 2026 release, the project aims to leverage Khanna's reputation for intense, character-driven performances. His involvement is expected to broaden the film's appeal across the Indian subcontinent as production continues throughout the spring.