Dhanush is generating buzz surrounding his upcoming film "Kuberaa," directed by Sekhar Kammula, by sharing unique insights into the film's challenging yet rewarding shooting experience. The movie, slated for release on June 20, 2025, is a trilingual social thriller simultaneously filmed in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi, marking Dhanush's foray into Telugu cinema.
During a promotional event in Mumbai, Dhanush revealed that parts of "Kuberaa" were shot in unconventional locations such as dump yards and inside garbage trucks. He described the experience as both "fantastic" and "weird," emphasizing how it pushed him out of his comfort zone as an actor. "As actors, we live very protected lives. We like to do what's convenient," Dhanush stated. "To go back and see that world again was both enlightening and nostalgic." He connected with his humble beginnings, finding the experience grounding.
Dhanush plays a beggar in "Kuberaa" who undergoes a dramatic transformation, navigating themes of greed, morality, and ambition. He admitted that he didn't do any specific preparation for the role, preferring to rely on director Sekhar Kammula's guidance. He praised Kammula's clarity and the ease with which he conveyed the nuances of the character, including the slang.
Dhanush lauded director Sekhar Kammula, stating that he agreed to the film after just a 20-minute narration. He said, "Sekhar sir is a fantastic human being. You will not meet a person like him. He is so clean, so pure and with such a good heart...I loved his energy, positivity and approach. I love his honesty towards making his films or as a human being. Sekhar is a great person". The actor has reiterated that this film is very close to his heart.
Adding to the film's appeal, Rashmika Mandanna, who also stars in "Kuberaa", shared her experience of shooting in a dump yard for 6-7 hours alongside Dhanush. According to Dhanush, Rashmika was unbothered by the environment.
"Kuberaa" boasts a stellar cast including Nagarjuna, Jim Sarbh, and Dalip Tahil. The film's music is composed by Devi Sri Prasad.
The film was initially known as D51, as it is Dhanush's 51st film as the leading actor, with the arrival of Nagarjuna, it was changed to DNS, the initialism referring to Dhanush, Nagarjuna and Sekhar.
"Kuberaa" is produced by Suniel Narang and Puskur Rammohan Rao, with the OTT rights reportedly acquired by Prime Video for a substantial sum. However, the producers revealed that the deal was contingent on the film's timely release. The film is set to release theatrically worldwide on June 20, 2025.