Nikhil Siddhartha, known for his role in the blockbuster Karthikeya 2, has wrapped up shooting for his first period action film, Swayambhu. This marks the end of a two-year cinematic journey for the actor. Swayambhu is slated to release on February 13, 2026.
The actor confessed to Hindustan Times about the massive effort that has been invested in the project. According to Nikhil, the shooting took 170 days, which is more than double the time spent on Karthikeya 2.
Set in the 11th century CE, Swayambhu sees Nikhil playing Krishnan Raman, a valiant Chola warrior and kingmaker. Nikhil believes that this is a story that deserves to be known. Nikhil shared that Swayambhu's narrative goes beyond just a king's story and becomes a tribute to Indian cultural greatness.
Nikhil, a self-confessed fan of historical dramas, stated he was immediately drawn to the role and the era it represents. Preparing for the character required a deep mental shift along with physical transformation. The team focused on historical accuracy, making sure every element, from the costumes to the weaponry, reflected the time period. Nikhil also said that even the Sengol, the traditional sceptre used by his character, was handled with respect.
According to Nikhil, growing his hair for three months for the film was the toughest part, as he refused to wear a wig. The film also features Maruthi, a majestic horse whose real name is Diamond. Nikhil spent three months bonding with the animal before filming, which helped them develop a believable on-screen rapport. Nikhil revealed that Maruthi even "speaks" in the film, adding a creative twist.
Nikhil acknowledged that the success of Karthikeya 2 helped secure the budget needed to execute the ambitious ideas in Swayambhu. He hinted at visually grand sequences, including scenes that take his character and Maruthi across oceans.
Nikhil admitted that long production schedules worry him, making him feel like he is losing precious years of his career. However, he hopes that the effort put into Swayambhu will be worth it when the audience sees the film.
The film is directed by Bharat Krishnamachari and produced by Bhuvan and Sreekar. Swayambhu is one of the highest-budget films in Nikhil's career, and he is placing high hopes on the project. The makers released a video confirming that the shoot has been completed. The video, titled Rise of Swayambhu, offers a glimpse into the film's world-building and set work.
Swayambhu will be released in eight languages, including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Chinese, Spanish, and Arabic.
The film features Samyuktha and Nabha Natesh as the female leads. The cinematography is by KK Senthil Kumar, and the music is composed by Ravi Basrur.
Vietnamese sword-fighting experts were brought in to train the stunt artists for the film. Several hundred artists were part of the climax sequence, which was filmed for 60 days at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad. Nikhil also underwent martial arts training in Vietnam to prepare for the film.
