Mega Prince Varun Tej will next be seen in the horror-comedy entertainer Korean Kanakaraju. The film, directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, features Ritika Nayak as the female lead. It is set to hit the big screens on August 7, 2026. The movie is jointly produced by Rajeev Reddy and Sai Baba Jagarlamudi under the banners of UV Creations and First Frame Entertainments. Thaman is the music composer. Ahead of the release, Merlapaka Gandhi interacted with the media, and here is the transcript.
From where did the story originate?
I went to a marriage with friends in Anantapur. We stopped at the Kia factory, and that spot was visually superb. We got to know that there are restaurants, a community, and markets specially designed for Koreans working at the company. It piqued my interest instantly. That is when I thought of an idea to unite Anantapur and Korea. This is how the idea for Korean Kanakaraju stemmed.
Was this story written for Varun Tej?
No, I had a different story for him. Later, I told him the Korean Kanakaraju concept. He liked it very much and asked me to develop it. Later, I gave the final narration, and he was heavily impressed. He also suggested minor changes. I like his acting. He always attempts new concepts. Varun did a solid job in Korean Kanakaraju, playing two shades.
Tell us about Ritika’s role.
She works in a Korean factory in the film and loves Korean culture. In real life, Ritika knows the Korean language, and her look also matches their culture. There are many Korean dialogues in the film. We brought tutors from Korea to train the lead pair. Also, for the Anantapur slang, we sought help from local tutors.
Did you get permission to shoot in Korea easily?
No. If we want to go there, or even if they need to come here, there is a huge process involved. We shot on a Korean island for 20 days. Once the script was locked, we wanted to shoot there. Also, it costs a lot to film in Korea. Hence, we went there with a minimum crew. We also shot some portions in Kazakhstan.
How confident are you about the film?
We will surely entertain audiences with Korean Kanakaraju. Varun Tej and I took extreme care regarding the film. We worked very hard with the motive of scoring a big hit.
What about your upcoming projects?
I am currently working on a story. It also belongs to the comedy thriller genre. Comedy is my comfort genre.