Venkatesh as Lt. Colonel Venkat Reddy: First look from VenkyAnil5 out
Synopsis
On the occasion of Venkatesh completing 40 years in Telugu cinema, the makers of VenkyAnil5 dropped his first look as Lt. Colonel Venkat Reddy — a counter-terrorism and hostage negotiation specialist. The military-themed reveal, following Kalyan Ram's earlier look unveil, signals an action-packed yet family-friendly entertainer gunning for the high-stakes Sankranthi 2026 box office.
Key Takeaways
Venkatesh's first look as Lt.
Colonel Venkat Reddy from #VenkyAnil5 was released on 14 August , marking his 40th anniversary in the film industry.
The character specialises in counter-terrorism and hostage negotiation in the Indian Army.
Kalyan Ram's look had been unveiled earlier on his birthday; Keerthy Suresh and Krithi Shetty also star in the film.
Music is by GV Prakash Kumar ; the film is produced under the Shine Screens banner by Sahu Garapati .
The film is slated for a Sankranthi 2026 release and is also referred to as #NKRAR2 .
The makers of director Anil Ravipudi's upcoming film #VenkyAnil5 on Friday, 14 August unveiled the first look of actor Venkatesh as Lt. Colonel Venkat Reddy of the Indian Army, marking the star's 40th anniversary in the Telugu film industry. The poster release adds to the growing buzz around what is being positioned as a grand-scale festive entertainer targeting a Sankranthi 2026 release.
The First Look Poster
The poster presents Venkatesh in an Indian Army camouflage uniform, complete with sunglasses and a scarf, standing beside a rugged SUV against a muted blue-green sky and rocky terrain. His composed, authoritative stance establishes the character as a seasoned military officer. The Army insignia and crossed-swords emblem in the backdrop reinforce the film's military setting.
According to the poster, Lt. Colonel Venkat Reddy specialises in counter-terrorism and hostage negotiation — a role that signals a high-stakes, action-driven narrative within Ravipudi's trademark blend of humour and family entertainment.
Earlier Look Reveal and Milestone Occasion
The makers had previously unveiled the look of actor Kalyan Ram on the occasion of his birthday. Friday's reveal of Venkatesh's first look was timed to coincide with the actor completing 40 glorious years in the film industry — a milestone that lends the occasion added significance for fans and the Telugu film fraternity alike.
Notably, the pairing of Venkatesh and Kalyan Ram is expected to be a major draw, with their contrasting screen personas and reported on-screen camaraderie set to bring a lively dynamic to the film.
Cast and Technical Team
Keerthy Suresh stars opposite Venkatesh, while Krithi Shetty is paired with Kalyan Ram. The film's technical crew includes GV Prakash Kumar on music, Sameer Reddy on cinematography, Tammiraju handling editing, and AS Prakash as production designer. S Krishna serves as executive producer.
Production and Release
The film is produced by Sahu Garapati under the Shine Screens banner, presented by Suresh Productions Archana and Zee Studios. According to sources, production is progressing at a brisk pace. Built on a lavish canvas and blending humour, emotion, family drama and action, #VenkyAnil5 — also referred to as #NKRAR2 — is slated to release during Sankranthi next year, one of Telugu cinema's most competitive festive windows.
Point of View
Designed to maximise emotional resonance and news coverage simultaneously. The military character framing is a calculated pivot: Ravipudi, known for mass comedies, is signalling scale and seriousness without abandoning his entertainment DNA. The Sankranthi window is fiercely contested, and early look reveals are as much about staking claim to that slot as they are about the film itself. Whether the Venkatesh-Kalyan Ram pairing can translate novelty into box-office numbers remains the real question.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Venkatesh playing in VenkyAnil5?
Venkatesh plays Lt. Colonel Venkat Reddy, an Indian Army officer specialising in counter-terrorism and hostage negotiation. The character was revealed through a first look poster released on 14 August.
Why was the VenkyAnil5 first look released on 14 August?
The first look was released to mark Venkatesh completing 40 years in the Telugu film industry, coinciding with 14 August. The makers had earlier unveiled Kalyan Ram's look on his birthday.
When is VenkyAnil5 releasing?
VenkyAnil5, also referred to as #NKRAR2, is slated to release during the Sankranthi festive season in 2026. No specific date has been confirmed yet.
Who else stars in VenkyAnil5?
Keerthy Suresh is paired opposite Venkatesh, while Krithi Shetty stars alongside Kalyan Ram. The film is directed by Anil Ravipudi and produced by Sahu Garapati under the Shine Screens banner.
Who is composing the music for VenkyAnil5?
GV Prakash Kumar is composing the music for VenkyAnil5. Sameer Reddy handles cinematography, Tammiraju is the editor, and AS Prakash serves as production designer.
