Ram Pothineni announced earlier that he would turn director with his next film, and now his ambitious project, tentatively titled RAPO23, has been officially launched. The film began with a traditional pooja ceremony held in a low-key manner without media presence.

Produced by Ram’s brother Krishna Pothineni under the newly launched Rapo Cinematics banner, the action drama marks Ram’s first film as a director and is said to be the highest-budget project of his career.

During the launch ceremony, producer Krishna Pothineni handed over the script to Ram Pothineni. For the muhurtham shot, P Murali Mohan switched on the camera, while PV Ravi Kishore sounded the clapboard. Ram directed the first shot himself, marking the beginning of his filmmaking journey.

The regular shoot also started on the same day on the outskirts of Hyderabad, with Ram joining the sets as the lead actor along with the film’s cast.

What makes RAPO23 special is that the story is completely original and written by Ram himself. The actor-director has planned the film as a psychological action thriller with a neo-noir backdrop. The film explores unique themes through intense character arcs and is expected to be a different attempt in Telugu cinema.

Apart from directing and writing, Ram will also be seen in a challenging role as the protagonist. His involvement in both departments highlights his commitment towards bringing his vision to the screen.

The makers are bringing together a strong technical team for the project. National Award-winning cinematographer Thirunavukarasu (Thirru) will handle the visuals, while action choreographer Peter Hein is designing the action sequences. Production designer AS Prakash is creating specially designed sets to match the film’s scale and vision.

The makers will announce the cast details soon. With an unconventional storyline, ambitious scale, and talented technicians on board, RAPO23 is expected to become a special film in Ram Pothineni’s career.