Rana Daggubati has announced a new film — titled Rakshasa Raja and directed by Teja, it will be set in 1930s India. Teja, who is working with Rana after Nene Raju Nene Mantri (2017), is excited about the collaboration. “Rana’s energy is infectious and his enthusiasm motivates others on the set,” he shares.
The story is inspired by some real-life gang events of that period. “I felt they would make a gripping entertainer if handled with certain cinematic liberties,” he reveals, adding that he has been developing the plot for a year. It’s not a film about the freedom struggle, but a gangster story set in the British era, he clarifies.
“I felt Rana would like it because the film shows the protagonist in a new light,” says Teja. “I have fine-tuned the script to suit Rana’s image and sensibilities.”
Rana has undergone a makeover for the part. “His hairstyling is different; since the plot is set in the 1930s we have changed his look too. And he has worked out to become lean,” Teja says.
