KJQ: Yukti Thareja plays 'Bhargavi' in Telugu period crime drama
Synopsis
Six days before its worldwide release, the makers of KJQ revealed that Yukti Thareja plays 'Bhargavi' — the Queen of the trio — in this 1990s-set Telugu period crime drama. The film also carries the weight of being the final directorial work of late director KK, making its 7 August release a tribute as much as a commercial event.
Key Takeaways
Yukti Thareja plays the character 'Bhargavi' , the Queen of KJQ , as revealed on 1 August by SLV Cinemas .
KJQ (King, Jackie, Queen) is a Telugu period crime drama set in the 1990s , releasing worldwide on 7 August .
The film stars Deekshith Shetty , debutante Shashi Odela , and Yukti Thareja in the three lead roles.
KJQ is the final directorial work of late director KK , and is being released as a tribute to his legacy.
The technical crew includes cinematographer Nagesh Banell , composer Poornachandra Tejaswi , and editor Shravan Katikaneni .
The makers of the upcoming Telugu period crime drama KJQ (King, Jackie, Queen) on Saturday, 1 August unveiled actress Yukti Thareja's character in the film — a role named 'Bhargavi', described as the Queen of KJQ. The reveal, timed six days ahead of the film's worldwide release on 7 August, has generated considerable buzz among Telugu film audiences.
The Character Reveal
Production house SLV Cinemas, helmed by producer Sudhakar Cherukuri, shared the announcement across its official social media channels alongside a short video clip introducing Thareja's character. The post read: 'Meet Bhargavi as the Queen of #KJQ in 6 days. Grand release worldwide on August 7th.'
The reveal follows a trailer the makers dropped a couple of days earlier, which has further amplified audience anticipation ahead of the release.
What the Trailer Reveals
The KJQ trailer opens with a striking voiceover that introduces the film's three central characters through symbolic comparisons to Dawood Ibrahim, Ajmal Kasab, and Mother Teresa — underscoring how circumstances can reshape a person into a predator, a sage, or simply an ordinary human being. The narrative centres on two close friends whose intense rivalry drives a story of power, ego, and vengeance, set against the gritty backdrop of the 1990s.
The three lead roles are played by Deekshith Shetty, debutante Shashi Odela, and Yukti Thareja. Shetty, known for his work in Dasara and The Girlfriend, leads the cast.
A Tribute to Late Director KK
KJQ holds particular emotional weight as it marks the final directorial work of late director KK, who passed away last year. The production team has stated that the film is intended as a heartfelt tribute to his creative vision and enduring passion for cinema.
Notably, this makes the release not just a commercial event but a deeply personal one for everyone associated with the project.
Technical Team
On the technical front, KJQ features cinematography by Nagesh Banell and a background score by Poornachandra Tejaswi. The editing is handled by Shravan Katikaneni, with production design by Srikanth Ramishetty.
With its worldwide release set for 7 August, all eyes will be on how audiences respond to this period crime drama that doubles as a tribute to a filmmaker lost too soon.
Point of View
But the emotional context here is different. This is the last film of director KK, and the production house's framing of the release as a tribute adds a layer that pure promotional mechanics cannot manufacture. Whether that sentiment translates into opening-weekend footfalls will depend on how strongly the trailer's 1990s-crime-drama hook resonates beyond core fan bases. Deekshith Shetty's post-Dasara credibility is the film's clearest commercial asset; Thareja's character reveal arriving this late suggests the makers are banking on intrigue over familiarity.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Yukti Thareja play in KJQ?
Yukti Thareja plays a character named 'Bhargavi', described as the Queen of KJQ. The role was officially revealed by production house SLV Cinemas on 1 August, six days before the film's worldwide release.
When does KJQ release in cinemas?
KJQ is set for a grand worldwide release on 7 August. The Telugu period crime drama is produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the SLV Cinemas banner.
Who else stars in KJQ alongside Yukti Thareja?
The film stars Deekshith Shetty, known for his roles in Dasara and The Girlfriend, alongside debutante Shashi Odela and Yukti Thareja in the three lead roles.
