Nikhil Kumar’s upcoming film has been titled Rider, which was revealed along with the action-packed first-look motion poster today. The sports drama is helmed by Telugu director Vijay Kumar Konda, who has earlier directed films like Okka Laila Kosam and Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinda. He is now joining hands with the Jaguar and Seetharama Kalyana actor.

The makers have completed 60 per cent of the shoot and Nikhil, who is happy with the way the film is shaping up, says it would have been released by now, if not for the COVID outbreak. “We now have to wait for the right time to release it,” says Nikhil.

The team is left with 32 days of shooting, and Nikhil plans to resume the next schedule, depending on the Covid-19 situation.

Rider has an inspirational story to tell, according to Nikhil. “It is a light-hearted story, and it’s been more than 10-15 years since we were treated to such a subject. Vijay Kumar Konda’s entertainer comes with a lot of commercial aspects,” he adds, about this sports-based subject in which the hero is a basketball player.

Rider is jointly produced by Lahari Music in association with T Series. It has Kashmira Paradeshi making her Kannada film debut. The film will feature Sampada playing the second lead. The cast also includes Dattanna, Achyuth Kumar, Chikkanna, Shivaraj K R Pete, Rajesh Nataranga, Shobaraj, Niharika and Anusha.

The film has Arjun Janya’s music and cinematography by Shreesha Kuduvalli.