Indian film history has constantly been evolving over time, and while it used to produce a breakout film once in a blue moon, this has recently changed. Blockbusters like Bahubali, RRR, and K.G.F. have propelled Indian cinema to new heights of acclaim and attention. In particular, RRR has become a global phenomenon by winning a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and is nominated for the Academy Award in the same category. While fans anticipate more films like these, the director Prashanth Neel has one scheduled for release in 2023.

Salaar is an upcoming Tollywood action film starring Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Shruti Haasan, and Jagapathi Babu. The film was announced in December 2020, with filming beginning in 2021, and despite a few setbacks, it will hit theaters this year. With rumors circulating regarding the film’s possible connection to the K.G.F universe, audiences across India are more excited than ever to witness the action thriller. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming film Salaar.

Salaar: The Plot

Although the production team kept the plot mostly under wraps, a story leak has been circulating the fandom, and it correlates well with the recently released short trailer. Salaar is set in the late nineteenth century and follows the story of a duo (as revealed by the director, Prabhas will play a dual role), one of them is an Anti-Terrorist Squad soldier, and the other a gangster who may be involved in a larger conspiracy involving the country.

Growing up on the streets without parents, one chose the path of crime by calling himself “Salaar”, which means “leader,” while the other opted to become a patriotic soldier hell-bent on eliminating terrorism from India. While the gangster has conquered the crime syndicate and established himself as a tyrant for a region similar to Yash’s in K.G.F, the soldier is looking into all cases involving terrorism and the man known as Salaar. Who will emerge triumphant in this deadly war between a soldier’s loyalty to his nation and a gangster’s desire to become the country’s most wanted criminal?

Salaar: The Cast & Crew

     Homable Films

Salaar is mainly famous for two reasons: Prabhas and Prashant Neel, the director of the K.G.F trilogy. Prabhas will portray two characters in the film, one of which is a criminal named Salaar, and the other is a soldier from the Anti-Terrorist Squad. Ever since his appearance in Mr. Perfect, the film that empathized with audiences and delivered a clear message, the actor has remained at the top of the industry. That was only the beginning, as he later captivated the hearts of both men and women with his stylish role in the blockbuster Mirchi.

His breakout role in Bahubali: The Beginning propelled him to stardom across India, and with its sequel, Bahubali 2: The Conclusion, he made history alongside director S. S. Rajamouli, who also helmed RRR. The actor has six films in development, with Adipurush, which represents the Ramayana story, and Salaar being the only ones that have been formally revealed. Shruti Haasan will be starring as the female lead, Aadhya, but how she will impact the movie is currently unknown. The actress rose to prominence after starring in the 2011 film 7th Sense, which embodied the essence of Bodhi Dharma and anticipated a disease akin to COVID-19.

She is also well known for her performances in films such as Rocky Handsome, Singam 3, Gabbar Singh, Premam, and The Power. In addition to the main two leads, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Jagapathi Babu will play Vardharaja Mannar and Rajamanaar, respectively. Considering their efficiency in every antagonistic role they have played, it appears that both of them will be portrayed as villains in the film.

While Prithviraj is well-known for his previous work on Mohan Lal’s Lucifer, Raavanan, and Ennu Ninte Moideen, Jagapathi Babu has delivered award-winning performances that have greatly contributed to their success. Fans of Legend, Goodachari, Nannaku Prematho, and Aravindha Sametha will recognize the actor’s exceptional talent. While these four actors seem to be the face of Salaar, there is also a variety of supporting cast members, including Abhinay Raj Singh (Kick), Easwari Rao (K.G.F: Chapter 2), Jackey Mishra (Alita: Battle Angel), Saran Sakthi (Jilla), Madhu Guruswamy (Mufti) and many more.

The movie is written and directed by Prashant Neel, who garnered national acclaim with K.G.F: Chapter 1 and K.G.F: Chapter 2. Among his other notable works are Sachin Gole, Agastya, and Ugramm. Vijay Kiragandur will produce the film under the banner Homable Films, with K.V. Rama Rao serving as executive producer. Meanwhile, Ravi Basrur, who has previously composed music for Prashant Neel’s K.G.F films, will return to provide music for Salaar.

Release Date

Salaar will hit theaters on September 28. The film was supposed to be released on April 14, 2022, but owing to COVID-19 pandemic concerns, they had to push it back, and we’re set with the current one.

Salaar is one of Tollywood’s most-anticipated films, and with Prashant Neel’s recent two pioneering blockbusters and Prabhas’ passion for his projects, it ought to be a game changer.