Riteish Deshmukh takes a leap into Telugu cinema with Ram Pothineni’s RAPO23

Riteish Deshmukh has never been an actor who likes to stay in one lane. From comedy and drama to playing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on screen, the actor has consistently taken on parts that push him into unfamiliar territory. And now he is taking another big leap: making his Telugu film debut with Ram Pothineni’s RAPO23.

The makers have released a video introducing Riteish’s arrival in the film, offering plenty of intrigue. Dark corridors, masked figures and an unsettling atmosphere set the tone for his entry into the psychological action thriller. Riteish is reportedly playing the antagonist, though the team has kept the character’s identity and motivations under wraps. For an actor who has built a career on moving between genres, the Telugu debut is a significant new step. In this year itself after Raja Shivaji, RAPO23 takes him into a different ecosystem, opposite a Telugu star who is himself making the transition to directing.

Written and directed by Ram Pothineni, RAPO23 casts the actor as Veera, described by the makers as a lone wolf. Samyuktha plays the female lead in the psychological action thriller, which is being mounted with a dark, neo-noir visual palette. Riteish’s reported casting as the antagonist adds another dimension to the film, setting up a clash between two actors entering unfamiliar territory in different ways.

Directed by Ram Pothineni in his directorial debut, #RAPO23 is produced by Krishna Pothineni under the Rapo Cinematics banner. The psychological action thriller stars Ram Pothineni, Riteish Deshmukh and Samyuktha, with cinematography by National Award-winning cinematographer Thirunavukarasu (Thirru), music by Sam CS, production design by AS Prakash and action choreography by Peter Hein, Vikram Mor and Kevin.