Daaku Maharaaj (2025) is a Telugu action drama directed by Bobby Kolli, marking his collaboration with Nandamuri Balakrishna, who plays the titular role. The film was released worldwide on January 12, 2025, coinciding with the Sankranti festival, and has become one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of the year.
🎬 Plot Overview
Set against the rugged backdrop of the Araku Valley, the story centers on Sitaram, a civil engineer who transforms into the notorious dacoit known as "Daaku Maharaaj." His journey begins when he exposes an illegal wildlife trade on his tea estate, leading to threats from powerful MLA Trimurthulu and his brother Manohar. In a twist of fate, Sitaram becomes the protector of his granddaughter, Vaishnavi, after a dacoit leader escapes from prison and takes on the role of a driver to safeguard her. The narrative delves into themes of power, revenge, and redemption as Sitaram confronts the corrupt forces threatening his family.
🎠Cast
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Nandamuri Balakrishna as Sitaram / Daaku Maharaaj
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Bobby Deol as Bablu Singh (antagonist)
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Pragya Jaiswal as Kaveri
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Shraddha Srinath as Vaishnavi
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Urvashi Rautela in a special appearance
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Ravi Kishan, Sachin Khedekar, Makarand Deshpande, VTV Ganesh, Rishi, Chandini Chowdary, and Aadukalam Naren in supporting roles.
📈 Box Office & Reception
Daaku Maharaaj has grossed over ₹150 crore at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing film in Nandamuri Balakrishna's career. Critics have lauded the film for its compelling storyline and strong performances, particularly highlighting Balakrishna's portrayal of the central character.
📺 OTT Release
The film began streaming on Netflix from February 21, 2025, in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. As of now, there has been no official announcement regarding a Hindi dubbed version.
