‘Ranabaali’ director Rahul Sankrityan shares story behind Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s poster

The makers of ‘Ranabaali’ recently released the film’s first wedding poster, coinciding with the real-life marriage celebrations of Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna. The first glimpse immediately drew attention for its old-world authenticity and emotional tone. Soon after, director Rahul Sankrityan shared that the image carried a deeply personal creative vision rather than being a routine promotional design. The timing, alongside the couple’s real wedding photos, made the poster feel even more meaningful to fans.In a heartfelt post, the filmmaker opened up about the thought process behind the image. Rahul Sankrityan explained that the photograph was never intended to look like a typical film poster but rather a captured moment frozen in time. Drawing inspiration from vintage family photographs, he described his fascination with how earlier generations posed without artificial expressions or performance. He noted that such images conveyed honesty, permanence, and emotional weight. Yesterday, we released the wedding poster of Ranabaali. But this wasn't designed as a 'poster.' It was a moment. I've always been fascinated by old photographs, our parents, grandparents… the way they stood before a camera. No posing. No rehearsed smiles. No anxiety about how it would look. Just truth. Just presence. Those images feel raw. Honest. Eternal. While building the world of Ranabaali, I wanted that same sincerity. The late 1800s were not glamorous times. They were harsh, grounded, deeply rooted in soil and survival. But within that world, marriages carried dignity. Weight. Permanence, (sic)"Sankrityan further recalled the day the actors arrived on set in full wedding attire. According to him, the transformation was so convincing that they no longer appeared like performers but like figures from another era. He opted for a minimal setup with a plain background and natural stillness rather than stylised lighting or dramatic poses. The result, he said, felt like rediscovering an old memory rather than staging a scene."The day Vijay and Rashmika came to set in wedding costume, something shifted. They didn't look like actors playing dress-up. They looked like they had travelled through time. It was instinct. I asked for a simple backdrop. No dramatic lighting. No stylised posing. Just stillness. And we captured it. What moved me most was how both of them slipped into the moment, controlled Time and make it happen. Like a memory pulled from their forgotten trunk. And when it aligns with their real wedding, it feels surreal. Sometimes cinema and life nod at each other."Responding to the director’s post, Vijay expressed how deeply the message moved him. He praised Sankrityan’s dedication to authenticity and attention to detail, adding that the project feels rooted in their shared cultural landscape. The actor also conveyed his and Rashmika’s full commitment to the film’s journey. His reaction further amplified fans’ anticipation around the project."Made me emotional Rahul_Sankrityn And your immense attention to real details and the people has excited and motivated me immensely, so interesting to read this and the details. This is a story from our lands and me and iamRashmika are all in with you on this great journey to make great cinema Ranabaali" Directed by Rahul Sankrityan, the period drama has already generated strong buzz. An earlier poster featuring Vijay in an intense, rugged look set against colonial India reportedly crossed 15 million views online. The narrative promises a sweeping tale of resistance, justice, and personal sacrifice, supported by striking visuals and a powerful score. Rashmika, affectionately called Jayamma by fans, plays the female lead opposite Vijay.Produced by Mythri Movie Makers’s Y. Ravi Shankar and Naveen Yerneni in collaboration with T-Series, the film marks the popular pair’s reunion after ‘Dear Comrade’. The cast also includes international actor Arnold Vosloo, adding global appeal to the project. ‘Ranabaali’ is scheduled for a theatrical release on September 11, 2026.