The upcoming pan-India film Mysaa, headlined by Rashmika Mandanna, officially hit the floors on Sunday with a traditional pooja ceremony in Hyderabad. Directed by debutant Rawindra Pulle, the emotional action thriller marks a significant shift in Rashmika’s career, as she takes on one of her most physically demanding roles to date.

The ceremony was attended by the core team, with Suresh Babu giving the inaugural clap and Ravi Kiran Kola switching on the camera. Director Hanu Raghavapudi handed over the bound script and directed the first shot, formally signalling the start of production. Rashmika is expected to join the team from the first schedule.

In Mysaa, Rashmika portrays a Gond tribal woman, a character that required her to undergo extensive physical transformation and combat training. The film’s first look poster, released last month, showed her in a fierce avatar, wielding a bloodied sword with a hardened expression. The poster tagline – “She roars. Not to be heard, but to be feared” – sets the tone for what is being described as a gritty, intense action film with emotional depth.

The production also announced that renowned action director Andy Long, known for his work in Kalki 2898 AD and Liger, has joined the team. In a behind-the-scenes video, the makers highlighted their focus on elevating action as a core storytelling element.

Produced by Ajay and Anil Sayappureddy under Unformula Films, Mysaa features Retro fame Shreyaas P Krishna as the cinematographer. Other key crew members, including the music director, will be revealed in the coming weeks. The film is being billed for a pan-India release in multiple languages.