We had earlier reported that Rachita Ram will reunite with Dhruva Sarja after eight years for a film directed by Rajguru. The reunion was confirmed during the muhurath, and Rachita herself was present at the film’s launch, which was held last month. Titled Criminal, the film is produced by Manish Shah of Goldmines Telefilms. While the makers are preparing to commence shooting sometime this month, the latest development in the project is that South Indian actor Aishwarya Rajesh has joined its cast.
Aishwarya, best known for appearing in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films, was initially expected to make her Kannada debut with Dhananjay and Shivarajkumar’s Uttarakhanda, directed by Rohit Padaki. However, that project has now been delayed, and sources reveal that Criminal will mark her debut in Kannada, as well as her first collaboration with Dhruva Sarja.
Set against a rural backdrop, Criminal combines drama and high-octane action, rooted in a narrative inspired by real events. The recently released title teaser provides a glimpse of the setting and tone, hinting at a story that balances emotion with gripping action sequences. Rajguru, who made his directorial debut with Kerebete, returns with this sophomore effort.
Apart from Kannada, Criminal is also set to release in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi. The film has music by Chandan Shetty, cinematography by Ravi Varma, and action sequences choreographed by Vikram Mor. While the makers gradually unveil the rest of the cast, an official announcement regarding Aishwarya Rajesh’s inclusion is expected soon.
