Samyuktha has officially joined Ram Pothineni’s upcoming Telugu film, tentatively titled RAPO23. The announcement was made by the makers on the occasion of the actor’s birthday, adding another major project to her growing slate across South Indian cinema.
The film marks a significant new phase for Ram Pothineni, who is taking on multiple responsibilities for the project. Besides playing the lead role, Ram is making his directorial debut and has also written the story. His brother Krishna Pothineni is producing the film under their Rapo Cinematic banner.
Samyuktha comes on board RAPO23
The makers welcomed Samyuktha to the project as its female lead. The actress has steadily expanded her presence across Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi films, and RAPO23 adds another Telugu title to an increasingly diverse filmography.
The project is currently being shot in Hyderabad. The ongoing schedule reportedly features Ram filming important sequences as the team works towards completing the next stages of production.
While the makers have kept several details about the plot under wraps, RAPO23 is being positioned as an action thriller with a heist backdrop. The combination of Ram’s acting and directorial responsibilities has already generated curiosity, while Samyuktha’s casting adds further interest to the project.
Ram Pothineni turns director
For Ram, RAPO23 represents his first attempt at directing a feature film. Taking on the roles of actor, director and story writer makes the project particularly ambitious for the iSmart Shankar star.
The technical crew includes cinematographer Thirunavukarasu, while music composer Sam CS is responsible for the film’s music. Sam CS has earned recognition for his background scores in several films, making his involvement notable for an action-driven story.
The makers are yet to reveal the film’s official title, release date and several key details about the characters.
Samyuktha has several films in the pipeline
Samyuktha is currently balancing RAPO23 with a number of other projects in different stages of production.
She has completed work on Puri Jagannadh’s Slum Dog: 33 Temple Road, which features Vijay Sethupathi in the lead and Tabu in an important role. The film is among the projects that has attracted attention because of its combination of established performers and Puri Jagannadh’s distinctive filmmaking style.
The actress is also leading ** The Black Gold **, directed by Yogi KMC. The female-centric film reportedly revolves around an illegal coal-mining network operating along the Telangana-Maharashtra border. Samyuktha plays a determined police officer who takes on the syndicate.
For the role, the actor has undergone martial arts and combat training and has expressed an interest in performing her own action sequences.
Swayambhu awaits release
Another major project in Samyuktha’s Telugu lineup is ** Swayambhu **, a period drama in which she plays one of the female leads.
The role required a different kind of preparation, with Samyuktha undergoing horse-riding training for the film. The project is currently awaiting its release.
With RAPO23, The Black Gold, Slum Dog: 33 Temple Road and Swayambhu in her lineup, Samyuktha has projects spanning different genres and languages.
What to expect from RAPO23
The film’s action-thriller and heist elements suggest that RAPO23 could offer Ram Pothineni an opportunity to explore a different storytelling space while making his transition behind the camera.
For Samyuktha, the project is another chance to headline a major Telugu production while continuing her multilingual career. The makers are expected to announce more information about the film, including its official title and further cast details, as production progresses.
