Venkatesh is marking a massive milestone in Telugu cinema, and filmmaker Anil Ravipudi has found the perfect way to celebrate it. On the occasion of Venkatesh completing 40 glorious years in the Telugu film industry, Ravipudi unveiled a striking new poster from their upcoming collaboration, offering fans a first look at the veteran actor as Lieutenant Colonel Venkat Reddy. The announcement instantly added an extra layer of excitement to the much-awaited project, which also stars Nandamuri Kalyan Ram.
Sharing the poster on social media, Anil Ravipudi called it an “absolute honour” to celebrate Venkatesh’s incredible journey with a special glimpse from their upcoming film. The filmmaker introduced his leading man as Lt Colonel Venkat Reddy, setting the tone for what appears to be a high-intensity action entertainer. The poster shows Venkatesh in military camouflage, standing beside a rugged vehicle as helicopters and sparks create a larger-than-life battlefield atmosphere around him.
The character itself promises to take Venkatesh into a different space. Lt Colonel Venkat Reddy is described as an Indian Army officer specialising in counter-terrorism and hostage negotiation, suggesting that the film will combine action with a strong tactical and emotional element. Venkatesh’s rugged appearance and commanding screen presence in the first look have already created curiosity about how the actor will approach this new role, particularly in a story that appears to have a strong military backdrop.
The milestone is particularly significant because Venkatesh made his Telugu cinema debut in 1986 and has since built one of the industry’s most enduring careers. Over four decades, he has successfully moved between family entertainers, romantic dramas, comedy and action, earning a loyal following across generations. His collaborations with Anil Ravipudi have also produced successful results, including F2, F3 and Sankranthiki Vasthunam, making their latest reunion an eagerly awaited one.
The upcoming film, currently being referred to with the hashtags #VenkyAnil5 and #NKRAR2, brings together Venkatesh and Nandamuri Kalyan Ram in a multi-starrer that promises to blend action and entertainment on a big scale. Backed by Suresh Productions and Shine Screens, the project marks Anil Ravipudi’s fifth collaboration with Venkatesh and is being lined up for a Sankranthi 2027 release, giving the makers a major festive window for what could be another crowd-pleasing entertainer.
For now, the first look has done exactly what a milestone poster should — celebrate an icon while teasing what comes next. As Venkatesh completes 40 years in Telugu cinema, stepping into the shoes of Lt Colonel Venkat Reddy could mark yet another interesting chapter in his remarkable career. With Anil Ravipudi behind the camera and Kalyan Ram joining the action, this reunion is already shaping up as one of the more exciting Telugu releases to watch out for in 2027.