Raghava Lawrence steps into mythology as Karna in Mahaveer Karna

Raghava Lawrence is set to enter the mythological genre with Mahaveer Karna, and the makers have now unveiled his first look as the legendary warrior Karna. The film is directed by Ramesh Varma and is planned as a multilingual epic.

The first look presents Lawrence in a striking warrior avatar, with long hair, traditional jewellery, elaborate armour and the distinctive Surya tilak associated with Karna. The actor’s appearance also features the character’s iconic Kundala and Kavacha, giving the poster a distinctly period setting.

The announcement marks Lawrence’s first outing in a mythological role. The actor expressed his happiness about portraying Karna and thanked Ramesh Varma for bringing the script to him. He also described the project as an epic live-action saga and sought the blessings and support of audiences for his new journey.

Mahaveer Karna marks Lawrence’s collaboration with Ramesh Varma, who is known for films including Khiladi and Rakshasudu. The project was earlier announced under the title Kaala Bhairava, but the film has now been officially presented as Mahaveer Karna.

The film is being produced by Pen Movies in association with Sri Neeladri Productions and RV Studios. The technical team includes cinematographer Ramji Dott, editor Prawin Pudi, dialogue writer Shreemani and music director Gyaani. The makers are expected to announce further details about the cast and crew in the coming days.

Mahaveer Karna is being planned as a five-language release in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi. The makers are also aiming for a large-scale visual presentation, with the film expected to feature elaborate period settings, action sequences and extensive visual effects.

The film is scheduled to release worldwide in 2027. With Lawrence stepping into the role of one of the most prominent characters from the Mahabharata, Mahaveer Karna marks a new space in his acting career and brings together the actor with Ramesh Varma for an ambitious mythological project.

On the work front, Raghava Lawrence has Benz and Kanchana 4 in his kitty, and these two will be his immediate next releases.

I’m truly happy and blessed to portray one of the most legendary characters from our mythology, #Karna 🏹⚔️

I never expected this script to come to me, and my thanks to director @DirRameshVarma for bringing this script to me and making this happen.

I take on this journey with… pic.twitter.com/hdGmzxAE6G

— Raghava Lawrence (@offl_Lawrence) September 22, 2026