Raghava Lawrence is set to portray the legendary warrior Karna in Mahaveer Karna, an ambitious pan-Indian film directed by Ramesh Varma. The project is being mounted on a large scale with an estimated budget of around ₹150 crore and is planned for a worldwide theatrical release in 2027.
Presented by Jayantilal Gada of Pen Movies, Mahaveer Karna is being produced in association with RV Studios and Sri Neeladri Productions. The film will be released in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and Kannada.
Director Ramesh Varma, known for films including Rakshasudu and Khiladi, is preparing to present the story of Karna with a new visual treatment designed for a contemporary theatrical audience.
Mahaveer Karna Movie Details
The makers are planning Mahaveer Karna as a large-scale cinematic interpretation of one of the most prominent characters from the Mahabharata.
| Mahaveer Karna | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie | Mahaveer Karna |
| Lead Actor | Raghava Lawrence |
| Character | Karna |
| Director | Ramesh Varma |
| Estimated Budget | Around ₹150 Crore |
| Presentation | Jayantilal Gada, Pen Movies |
| Banners | Pen Studios, RV Studios, Sri Neeladri Productions |
| Languages | Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada |
| Release | 2027 Worldwide |
| Music | Gyani |
| Cinematography | Ramji Dot – Hybrid Creator |
| Editor | Praveen Pudi |
| Production Design | Gandhi Nadikudikar |
| Dialogues | Srimani |
| VFX | Ramesh Varma |
| PRO | Sabari |
Raghava Lawrence as Karna
Raghava Lawrence will take on the central role of Karna, the legendary warrior whose life forms one of the most compelling narratives in the Mahabharata.
Rather than concentrating only on the grandeur associated with the character, the film is expected to explore Karna‘s human side as well. Honour, destiny, loyalty, friendship and sacrifice are among the central themes around which the character will be presented.
Karna’s journey from birth, the challenges imposed on him by destiny and his determination to remain committed to his word and beliefs are expected to provide both the emotional and action-driven foundations of the film.
Mahaveer Karna Planned on a Grand Scale
The makers are developing Mahaveer Karna on an expansive canvas, with specially constructed sets, large-scale action sequences and battle scenes forming important parts of the production.
Production design recreating an ancient period will be combined with modern visual effects to build the kingdoms, landscapes and battlefields associated with Karna’s story.
With an estimated production budget of approximately ₹150 crore, the project is being positioned as a major multilingual Indian production.
Ramesh Varma Directs Mahaveer Karna
Ramesh Varma is handling the direction and VFX of Mahaveer Karna. His previous directorial works include Rakshasudu and Khiladi.
The director’s experience with action-oriented cinema will now be applied to a mythological setting, combining large battle sequences with the emotional conflicts surrounding Karna.
Five-Language Pan-Indian Release in 2027
Mahaveer Karna is planned for release in five Indian languages — Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and Kannada.
The makers are targeting a worldwide release in 2027, although an exact theatrical release date has not yet been announced.
The remaining cast and other members of the technical team will be revealed in stages. According to the announcement, the upcoming updates will gradually introduce the scale of the project and the team associated with the production.
With Raghava Lawrence playing Karna, Ramesh Varma directing and a large-scale multilingual production planned by Pen Studios, RV Studios and Sri Neeladri Productions, further updates on Mahaveer Karna, including its additional cast and final 2027 release date, are awaited.
