Allu Arjun has not been on screen since Pushpa 2 in 2024. His next film is Raaka, and it looks nothing like Pushpa. The film is directed by Atlee, who made Jawan with Shah Rukh Khan in 2023. The title was revealed on 8 April 2026, on Allu Arjun's 44th birthday. Before that, fans knew it only as AA22xA6, which meant Allu Arjun's 22nd film and Atlee's sixth film as director. Sun Pictures, led by Kalanithi Maran, backs the film. The reported budget is Rs 700 to 800 crore. Treat that as reported, because Sun Pictures has not shared a full budget note. Even at the low end of that range, Raaka is one of the largest Telugu led films ever planned. It is set for release in
2027, with reports pointing to the first half of the year. No exact date has been locked in public as of 2 November 2026.
What the poster shows
The title
poster is a close up. Allu Arjun is bald, with kohl lined eyes and a thick beard. Part of his face is covered by a furry paw with sharp claws. A tusk like detail adds to the wild feel. He stares straight at the camera. Atlee shared the poster with a note saying the idea had stayed with him for 18 years. That line got fans talking, because it suggests this is a personal project for Atlee, not just a large action film. The poster was released in nine languages, which tells you the plan. This is a pan India film from day one, not a Telugu film that later gets dubbed.
Deepika Padukone plays the female lead. This is her first film with Allu Arjun, and her second with Atlee after Jawan. Reports also link
Rashmika Mandanna, Mrunal Thakur and Janhvi Kapoor to the cast, but those names are reported, not confirmed by Sun Pictures in a full cast list.
Why this pairing matters
Allu Arjun brings mass appeal. Atlee brings large scale action with emotion at the centre. Jawan worked because it mixed a star, a cause and set pieces that played well in single screens and multiplexes. Raaka seems to follow that path, but with a sci fi edge. Reports describe it as a sci fi thriller, with talk of shape shifting creatures and birds in the poster art. Some reports also say Allu Arjun may play four roles, as a grandfather, a father and two sons. That is reported, not confirmed, and it would be a first for him if it holds. The VFX plan also stands out. Reports say Hollywood technicians are involved, including VFX supervisor James Madigan. Music is by Sai Abhyankkar. That mix of Indian story and global effects talent is now common for films of this size. Fans will judge Raaka on whether the effects serve the story, or just fill the frame.
The Pushpa shadow
Pushpa 2 set a very high bar. Allu Arjun's walk, dialogue style and screen presence from that film still trend in reels and clips. Raaka has to give him a new image, or fans will compare every scene to Pushpa. The bald look and the wild poster are a clear break. He does not look like Pushpa Raj here. He looks like something older, stranger and more dangerous. That break is a risk and a strength. If the film works, Allu Arjun adds a new chapter to his career. If it does not, fans will ask why he left the Pushpa world behind. Atlee faces the same test. Jawan was a hit, but a sci fi film needs a tight script, not just scale. The next teaser will show if the story is clear, or if the film is leaning only on looks.
What to watch next
Watch for a full cast list from Sun Pictures. Watch for a teaser that explains the world, because the poster raises more questions than it answers. Watch for an exact release date, because first half 2027 is a wide window. And watch for how Deepika's role is shaped. She has played strong leads in large films, and fans will want to see if Raaka gives her a full arc, not just a few scenes. For now, Raaka is one of the most talked about 2027 films in Telugu and Hindi cinema. It has a star at his peak, a director with a recent blockbuster, and a look that no one expected. That is a strong start. The script will decide the rest.
