What’s next for Akshaye Khanna after the blockbuster Dhurandhar (2025)? Trust the actor to take a departure from mainstream Hindi actioners and try his hand at something new. That explains his maiden Telugu film, Mahakali, which also marks his first mythological superhero action movie. Khanna — who plays Asura guru Shukracharya, at odds with the protagonist essayed by Bhoomi Shetty — recently wrapped up his portions in the Puja Aparna Kolluru-directed movie.

It turns out the actor was drawn to the film’s ambitious world, more so to his character’s complexity. Excited about joining the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe, he began shooting for Mahakali in May 2025.

A source told mid-day, “Choosy as ever, Akshaye agreed to play Asura guru Shukracharya as he was intrigued by the role. In Hindu mythology, he was the revered teacher of the Asuras and advised them in their battles against the gods. His primary role was to revive the dead demons, while Maa Kali’s role was to destroy the demon army. That put them on opposite sides of the conflict. Shukracharya is considered a knowledgeable sage rather than inherently evil. He is a misunderstood character in Indian scriptures, and Akshaye loved that complexity.”

The unit shot an extensive schedule from February to April this year. Now, they are shooting the last leg in Kolkata. “On May 9, the team filmed near the Dakshineswar Temple. Principal photography will be completed by July,” added the source.

Shukracharya, the Asura Guru, is a complex figure in Hindu mythology, revered as the preceptor of the Asuras and a keeper of secret knowledge. Akshaye Khanna’s transformation as Shukracharya in Tollywood’s first female superhero film Mahakali, has been the talk of T-town.

Director Puja Kolluru, spills the beans on the thought behind the character in the film. “He is not fully a villain or entirely a good person. He moves between both. To represent this duality, we chose a monochromatic grey palette, with a silvery feel to give him an ancient aura,” she explains.

Showrunner Prasanth Varma adds, “Shukracharya is one of the most complex figures in the itihasas. We will explore his backstory. He plays a major role in Mahakali and will continue in the larger cinematic universe.”

Actor Akshaye Khanna will soon debut in Telugu. He will play a pivotal role in the first female superhero film in the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU), Mahakali.

Though the source, close to the film’s unit, is mum on whether his character is an antagonist or a positive one, they tell HT that, “All we can reveal is that his role will add intrigue and depth to the growing PVCU universe. His role will span across multiple films in the franchise and will prove to be an exciting addition. We’re hoping Mahakali is received as well as HanuMan (2024) was.”

The source also tells us that the film is yet to go on floors, as Prasanth, who conceptualised the film, and director Puja Aparna Kolluru are working on finalising the cast and other details.

“Prasanth is particular about who he wants to cast as the lead because this will be his first female superhero, and it requires a certain charm while challenging beauty standards. Hopefully, all details will be ironed out soon, and the film will officially be rolled out,” says the source.

PVCU was kicked off last year with Teja Sajja’s superhero film HanuMan, based on Lord Hanuman’s lore. A sequel to it, Jai Hanuman with actor Rishab Shetty, is in the works. Mahakali is the third superhero film in the franchise, based on Goddess Kali.

Prasanth spoke to HT about the film, last year in October after the film’s announcement, and had said, “Casting a big star to play Mahakali is no longer challenging, but that’s not the point. When the film is being made to challenge beauty standards, I want to ensure we do our bit not to propagate it, too.”