Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Mar 19: The makers of director Srikanth Odela’s much-anticipated action film The Paradise have revealed the character name and look of veteran actor Mohan Babu on the occasion of his birthday.

Taking to the film’s official social media platforms, the team released a behind-the-scenes video showcasing the actor during shooting. Alongside the clip, they introduced his character as ‘Shikanja Maalik’, hinting at a powerful antagonist role and promising audiences a return to his trademark on-screen intensity.

The film stars Nani in the lead and is scheduled for a grand worldwide release on August 21, 2026. Originally planned for a March release, the makers postponed the film to capitalise on a festive window that includes celebrations like Onam, Milad-un-Nabi, Raksha Bandhan, and Janmashtami—a period expected to boost box office performance.

Backed by SLV Cinemas, The Paradise has generated significant buzz among fans and industry watchers alike. The project marks a reunion between Odela and Nani after their successful collaboration on Dasara, which received critical acclaim and crossed the ?100 crore mark at the box office.

Adding to the excitement, actor Sampoornesh Babu will be seen in a quirky role named ‘Biryani’, while Bollywood actor Raghav Juyal is also part of the cast and is reportedly undergoing a transformation for his role.

Before making his directorial debut, Srikanth Odela worked as an assistant under filmmaker Sukumar on notable films like Nannaku Prematho and Rangasthalam.

The film is set for a multilingual release across eight languages, including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, English, and Spanish, further underlining its pan-India and global appeal.