We had previously announced that Varun Tej will be working next in Matka, a period film set in the world of gambling and crime. The makers of the film have unveiled a first glimpse video on Friday. Titled 'Opening Bracket', the video was released on occasion of Varun Tej's birthday. Meenakshi Chaudhary and Nora Fatehi are the female leads of the film. Matka also stars Naveen Chandra, Kannada Kishore, Ravindra Vijay, Satyam Rajesh, Ravi Shankar, Ajay Ghosh, Roopa Lakshmi and Avinash Kanaparthi. 

The first glimpse video opens with birthday wishes to the actor, following which we are introduced to Matka's premise. We see an opening shot of the protagonist with a gramophone, which is followed by glimpses of the film's supporting cast in quick succession. While Naveen Chandra plays a gangster, P Ravi Shankar is seen playing a police officer. The protagonist, though not fully visible, is shown playing kabaddi and later becoming the head of a gambling mafia. Set between 1958 and 1982, Varun Tej will be seen in a whole new avatar in the film.

Matka, poised to be Varun Tej's pan-India debut, is written and directed by Karuna Kumar. He had previously helmed the films Palasa 1978 (2020) and Sridevi Soda Center (2021). Matka is produced by Dr Vijender Reddy Teegala under the banner Vyra Entertaintainments, in association with Rajani Talluri's SRT Entertainments. The film is currently in production in Hyderabad, where scenes are being canned in a specially constructed massive set. GV Prakash Kumar is the music director of the film, with cinematography by A Kishor Kumar, editing by Karthika Srinivas R and production design by Ashish Teja Pullala.