Mumbai: Actress Aishwarya Lekshmi has denied reports that she has joined the cast of Raaka, the much-awaited pan-India film starring Allu Arjun and directed by Atlee.
Speculation about Aishwarya‘s involvement in the ambitious project had recently gained momentum, with reports claiming that she was being considered for a role in the film. Some reports even suggested that the actress could portray a negative character.
However, Aishwarya has now clarified that she is not part of the project.
Aishwarya puts casting rumours to rest
Speaking to India Today, Aishwarya directly addressed the reports about her alleged involvement in Raaka.
“No, I am not part of the film,” the actress said.
She added a humorous response to the speculation, saying, “Somebody please cast me in the film.”
Her comments put an end to the recent reports linking her to the highly anticipated project.
How Aishwarya’s name surfaced
Aishwarya’s name began circulating online as reports emerged about the expanding ensemble cast of Raaka.
The film has already generated considerable attention because it brings together Allu Arjun and Atlee for the first time. The casting of Deepika Padukone has further increased interest in the project, with every new report about potential additions to the cast attracting considerable attention.
The reports about Aishwarya suggested that she could be considered for a negative role. However, the actress’s statement confirms that she is not currently part of the film.
Aishwarya currently promoting #Love
The actress is currently busy promoting her Tamil romantic series #Love, in which she stars opposite Arjun Das.
The series premiered on Netflix on Friday, adding to Aishwarya’s promotional commitments at a time when the Raaka casting reports began circulating.
Aishwarya has been active across Malayalam and Tamil cinema and has built a following through films and streaming projects. Her clarification comes as interest around her latest release continues to grow.
Allu Arjun and Atlee collaborate for Raaka
Raaka marks the first collaboration between Allu Arjun and director Atlee. The project is being mounted as a large-scale pan-India production under Sun Pictures.
Allu Arjun is playing the central character, while Deepika Padukone is also part of the lead cast.
The film’s promotional material has already hinted at an ambitious visual scale. Allu Arjun’s first look featured him in a striking, beast-like avatar described as having werewolf-inspired elements.
The project has also been associated with a large-scale motion-capture production involving dozens of performers and cameras.
Film positioned as global-scale production
The makers have been promoting Raaka as a project that aims to push the boundaries of Indian cinema.
A recent promotional video carried the tagline, “Beyond what seemed possible. We dared to imagine. We dared to achieve. Raaka: A global triumph.”
Allu Arjun has also spoken about the scale of the project and asked audiences to remain patient while the team works on the film.
The actor said the team was trying to deliver its best and hoped the wait would be worthwhile for audiences. He has also described the project as an attempt to push the limits of cinema beyond Indian standards and towards a global scale.
Sai Abhyankkar scores the music
The music for Raaka is being composed by Sai Abhyankkar, while Atlee is directing the film.
The movie is being shot primarily in Mumbai and is produced by Sun Pictures. The production is expected to be among the major upcoming releases involving leading names from Telugu and Hindi cinema.
According to reports, Allu Arjun has asked the production team to complete the shooting by the end of December 2026, allowing him to move on to his next project with director Lokesh Kanagaraj.
For now, Aishwarya Lekshmi’s name can be removed from the list of reported additions to Raaka, with the actress herself confirming that she is not part of the film.