Anusuya Bharadwaj plays Leelavathi in Virat Karrna's Nagabandham
Synopsis
On her birthday, Anusuya Bharadwaj was unveiled as the fierce Leelavathi in Nagabandham — a pan-Indian mythological thriller that digs into the hidden secrets of ancient Vishnu temples, inspired by the real treasure discoveries at Padmanabhaswamy and Puri Jagannath. With a July 3 worldwide release across five languages, the film is shaping up as one of the more ambitious mythological adventures out of Telugu cinema this year.
Key Takeaways
Anusuya Bharadwaj plays the character Leelavathi in the pan-Indian film Nagabandham , revealed on her birthday on 15 May .
The film is directed by Abhishek Nama and stars Virat Karrna in the lead role.
Female leads are Iswarya Menon and Nabha Natesh ; supporting cast includes Jagapathi Babu , Jayaprakash , and Murali Sharma .
The story centres on the sacred ritual of Nagabandham and the hidden secrets of ancient Vishnu temples, inspired by discoveries at Padmanabhaswamy and Puri Jagannath .
Nagabandham releases worldwide on 3 July 2025 in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam .
Actress Anusuya Bharadwaj will be seen as a character named Leelavathi in the pan-Indian mythological action drama Nagabandham, the film's production house confirmed on Friday, 15 May, coinciding with the actress's birthday. The revelation came via an official social media post by Nik Studios, which also shared Bharadwaj's look from the film for the first time.
The Birthday Reveal
Nik Studios marked the occasion with a character announcement post, writing: “A fierce woman led by echoes not her own. Happy Birthday to our ‘Leelavathi’ aka @anusuyakhasba. #NAGABANDHAM In Cinemas Worldwide On July 3rd.” The post hinted at a complex, layered role for Bharadwaj within the film's mythological universe.
Cast and Creative Team
Directed by Abhishek Nama — for whom the project is reportedly a dream venture — Nagabandham stars Virat Karrna in the lead role, with Iswarya Menon and Nabha Natesh as the female leads. The supporting ensemble includes Jagapathi Babu, Jayaprakash, Murali Sharma, and B.S. Avinash. Behind the camera, cinematography is handled by Soundar Rajan S, music by Abhe and Junaid Kumar, dialogues by Kalyan Chakravarthy, editing by Santosh Kamireddy, and art direction by Ashok Kumar.
What the Film Is About
Carrying the tagline ‘The Secret Treasure’, Nagabandham explores the hidden mysteries of India's ancient Vishnu temples, centred on the sacred ritual of Nagabandham. The narrative draws inspiration from real-world treasure discoveries at temples such as Padmanabhaswamy and Puri Jagannath, weaving mythology and enigmatic temple rituals into a modern adventure story. Sources close to the unit describe it as an epic that brings age-old secrets to life through a fresh cinematic lens.
Release Details
The film is set for a worldwide theatrical release on 3 July 2025, arriving simultaneously in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. Produced under the Nik Studios and Abhishek Picture banners, the project has already generated considerable buzz among fans of mythological and action cinema ahead of its release.
Point of View
But Nagabandham's hook goes beyond casting announcements. Grounding a fictional mythology thriller in the real-world mystique of Padmanabhaswamy and Puri Jagannath — temples that have generated genuine national intrigue — is a smart audience-capture move. The five-language simultaneous release signals serious pan-India ambitions, but the real test will be whether the mythological narrative can hold up against the scale being promised. Anusuya Bharadwaj's track record in strong character roles adds credibility to what could otherwise read as a standard ensemble blockbuster pitch.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Anusuya Bharadwaj play in Nagabandham?
Anusuya Bharadwaj plays a character named Leelavathi in Nagabandham. The role was announced by production house Nik Studios on 15 May, coinciding with the actress's birthday, along with a first look at her character.
When does Nagabandham release in cinemas?
Nagabandham is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on 3 July 2025. The film will arrive simultaneously in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
What is Nagabandham about?
Nagabandham is a mythological action drama centred on the sacred ritual of Nagabandham and the hidden secrets of ancient Vishnu temples. It draws inspiration from real treasure discoveries at the Padmanabhaswamy and Puri Jagannath temples, blending mythology with a modern adventure narrative under the tagline 'The Secret Treasure.'
Who are the leads in Nagabandham?
Virat Karrna plays the lead role in Nagabandham, directed by Abhishek Nama. Iswarya Menon and Nabha Natesh are the female leads, while the supporting cast includes Jagapathi Babu, Jayaprakash, Murali Sharma, and B.S. Avinash.
Who is producing Nagabandham?
Nagabandham is produced under the Nik Studios and Abhishek Picture banners. The film is described by sources close to the unit as a dream project for director Abhishek Nama.
