As we reported earlier, Naga Shaurya is collaborating with debutant director Raam Desina. To mark Naga Shaurya’s birthday, the title and first-look poster were unveiled. The film is titled Bad Boy Karthik. The poster shows Naga Shaurya in a rugged avatar, sitting on the back of a van with a bloodied forehead and hands, suggesting a violent narrative. The character, Karthik, appears to have a mass-orientated appeal, with sacred namalu on his forehead hinting at a cultural undertone.

Bad Boy Karthik is produced by Srinivasa Rao Chintalapudi under the Sri Vaishnavi Films banner. Viidhi plays the female lead, while actors Samuthirakani and Naresh have significant roles. Interestingly, Harris Jayaraj is composing music for the film, composing for a straight Telugu film after a long time. The technical team includes Rasool Ellore as the cinematographer and Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao as the editor. Production design is by Rajeev Nair.

Filming began in August last year, and the project is said to be nearing completion. Naga Shaurya, last seen in Rangabali (2023), had earlier announced a different film with the same production house, but it did not materialise. The makers declared that Bad Boy Karthik will have Naga Shaurya playing a “swag-packed, attitude-filled avatar.”