Shine Shetty is taking the wheel, quite literally, in his next film. The actor plays a bus driver in Shankarabharana, a horror comedy directed by Sumanth Bhat. The recently released official teaser offers a glimpse into a world where the bus is not merely a mode of transport but an important part of the story and the strange events that unfold around its journey.
Released by Ranggasthala Studios, the teaser establishes an eerie and suspenseful mood right from the opening moments. Haunting soundscapes accompany moody forest visuals before the focus shifts to a lonely bus journey. As the vehicle moves through the dark and atmospheric surroundings, the teaser hints at chilling encounters and unsettling incidents that appear to await the passengers along the way.
The mystery deepens towards the end with a Kannada dialogue, which roughly translates to, 'What was it like to see the female ghost or spirit?' The question is followed by a visibly terrified reaction, leaving the teaser with a sense of intrigue while also hinting at the horror-comedy tone of the film.
At the centre of this unusual journey is Shine Shetty's character, the driver of the Shankarabharana bus. He is portrayed as an ordinary man making a living on the road, but his everyday routine appears to take an unexpected turn as he encounters strange and comic situations. The bus itself becomes a key part of the narrative, connecting the characters and the events that unfold during the journey.
Directed by Sumanth Bhat, Shankarabharana marks his move into commercial cinema after his work on the web series Ekam and the National Award-winning feature Mithya. With this film, Sumanth Bhat explores the horror-comedy genre while keeping the setting and its characters rooted in everyday life.
For Shine Shetty, the film involves more than just stepping into the lead role. He has also written the story, with some of the incidents and experiences he has encountered around him finding their way into the screenplay. The project further marks his debut as a producer.
Shine is producing Shankarabharana along with Divakar Shetty under their Ranggasthala Studios banner. The newly established production house plans to back films from the coastal belt and other parts of Karnataka.
Tanvi Rao plays the female lead and shares screen space with Shine. The actor has appeared in more than 17 Malayalam films. Kruthi, wife of music composer Anoop Seelin, is also part of the cast in a key role.
Charan Raj has composed the music for the film, with Udit Khurana serving as the cinematographer.
With the official teaser now setting the pre-release buzz, Shankarabharana brings a mix of eerie atmosphere, humour and an unusual road journey. The film is slated for a worldwide release on November 20, 2026, putting Shine Shetty behind the wheel of a story that brings together his roles as actor, writer and producer.