Development In late-November 2022,
Ram Charan confirmed his collaboration with
Buchi Babu Sana for his next film. It was produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru's Vriddhi Cinemas and
Sukumar Writings,
Mythri Movie Makers to be the distributors. The film's crew and actors who were playing pivotal characters in the film were announced through individual publicity posters shared through the social media handles of the production house. Accordingly,
R. Rathnavelu was announced as the cinematographer. In January 2024,
A. R. Rahman was brought onboard to compose the background score and music to the film. The production house scheduled auditions in Vizianagaram, Salur, Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam to rope in additional actors. The film was launched under the working title RC16 on 20 March 2024 by
Chiranjeevi in
Hyderabad. The film was called out as a "rural, emotional and rustic journey" for the audience. Charan underwent physical transformation for his role under fitness coach Shivoham Bhatt. He learnt the
Vizianagaram dialect for his role.
Casting Ram Charan was announced as the main lead.
Jahnavi Kapoor was announced as the female lead alongside Charan on 6 March 2024.
Jagapathi Babu and
Divyenndu joined the film in November 2024.
Vijay Sethupathi was offered a role but declined it, as he preferred to play a diversive role in subsequent films rather than reprising a father figure again as he did in Sana's
Uppena (2021).
Boman Irani joined the cast in December 2025. In April 2026,
Shruti Haasan was roped in for a special appearance in a song.
Filming Principal photography commenced in Mysuru on 22 November 2024. The director posted his picture with the film’s script in front of the
Chamundeshwari Temple. Kapoor stayed in Hyderabad through December 2024 to prepare for her character in the film. A few scenes were filmed at the Bhoot Bungalow in Hyderabad for 10 days. An action sequence was filmed near
Moula Ali through five days in April 2025. In May 2025, production designer Avinash Kolla and his team have built village resembling
Vizianagram in the outskirts of Hyderabad, where stunt and dramatic sequences were filmed. 30% of the filming was completed. By October 2025, the crew filmed a romantic number in
Sri Lanka. In the Pune schedule, a dance number titled "Chikiri" choreographed by Jani Master was filmed at Savalya Ghat. 60% of the filming was completed, with the first half edited. It was face-off between Charan and Rajkumar. In April 2026, a special song featuring
Shruti Haasan was filmed in Hyderabad. Principal photography was wrapped by the end of April 2026. == Music ==