Sai Kumar plays Sr NTR? Deva Katta teases his look in Mayasabha

Sony LIV’s upcoming Telugu original Mayasabha creates an interesting buzz, with a birthday poster of actor Sai Kumar triggering speculation that he might be playing a character loosely based on legendary actor-politician NT Rama Rao (NTR). The political drama, created by Deva Katta, is set to premiere on August 7.

The poster, released on Sai Kumar’s birthday, showcases the actor in a powerful backshot that many fans believe closely resembles Sr NTR. The comparisons were amplified by a tweet from director Deva Katta.

He wrote, “After Prasthanam and Autonagar Surya, it was an absolute joy working with you for the third time in Mayasabha, dear #Saikumar gaaru… Whatever role you played here — YOU ABSOLUTELY ROCKED IT!!!! Telugu audiences will once again witness your majestic performance on 7th August!”

While the makers have not confirmed the character's inspiration, the visual cues and political tone have led to heightened anticipation. Deva Katta has previously stated that the series is a fictionalised political drama set in united Andhra Pradesh between 1975 and 2009, focusing on the friendship and rivalry of two political leaders from opposing camps.

The show stars Aadhi Pinisetty as Kakarla Krishnama Naidu and Chaitanya Rao Madadi as MS Rami Reddy, characters believed to be loosely based on Chandrababu Naidu and YS Rajasekhar Reddy. The teaser, released earlier, hinted at high-stakes political manoeuvring, including internal party conflicts and strategic betrayals. Sai Kumar’s poster now adds a new dimension, suggesting a portrayal of an influential elder statesman amid this volatile landscape.

Mayasabha also features Divya Dutta, Nasser, and Ravindra Vijay in key roles. It is produced by Vijay Krishna Lingamaneni and Sree Harsha under Hitmen & Proodos Productions LLP. The series will be available in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Malayalam.