Why Akshaye Khanna agreed to play Shukracharya in Prasanth Varma’s ‘Mahakali’: Here’s what we know

Akshaye Khanna will mark his Telugu debut in Hanu-Man fame director Prasanth Varma’s Cinematic Universe movie, ‘Mahakali’ directed by Puja Aparna Kolluru. In the movie, the actor will play Shukracharya, the Guru (teacher) of the Asuras (demons). Recent reports reveal what attracted the ‘Dhurandhar’ star to portray this role.After the blockbuster success of ‘Dhurandhar,’ Akshaye Khanna decided to try something completely different. Instead of signing another Hindi action film, the actor chose ‘Mahakali’, which is also his first mythological superhero movie. The film is part of the growing Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe and stars Bhoomi Shetty in the lead role.Akshaye recently completed shooting his portions for the film. He reportedly joined the project in May 2025 and was excited to become part of this cinematic universe.As per a Mid-day report, the ‘Chhaava’ actor was mainly drawn to the complexity of Shukracharya’s character. In Hindu mythology, Shukracharya is known as the respected teacher of the Asuras, guiding them during battles against the gods. One of his biggest powers is bringing dead demons back to life.In the film, ‘Mahakali’ stands against the demon army, which puts her and Shukracharya on opposite sides. However, the character is not portrayed as fully evil. He is seen as wise, intelligent and misunderstood. This emotional conflict is reportedly what Akshaye liked most about the role.The team filmed a long schedule between February and April this year. The final schedule is now taking place in Kolkata. On May 9, the team reportedly shot scenes near the Dakshineswar Temple. The makers plan to complete principal photography by July.In addition to ‘Mahakali,’ Akshaye Khanna will be seen in the courtroom drama, ‘Ikka,’ with Sunny Deol. The film is set for an OTT release on Netflix.