Sonakshi Sinha, known for films like Dabangg, Lootera, and Akira, is now all set to make her Telugu debut with Jatadhara, a supernatural thriller directed by Abhishek Jaiswal and Venkat Kalyan. The film stars Sudheer Babu in the lead, with Shilpa Shirodkar appearing in a key role. Scheduled for release on November 7, the bilingual film sees Sonakshi playing the antagonist, Dhanapisachini, a role she describes as dark and layered.
Speaking about what drew her to the project, the actress said the script intrigued her immediately. “It’s very different from anything I’ve done before,” she shared. Sonakshi added that she has always been open to regional cinema but could not commit earlier due to packed schedules. After previously working in Tamil cinema with Lingaa, she is now excited to connect with Telugu audiences.
Sonakshi also highlighted the work culture in the Telugu industry, praising its discipline and punctuality. “If you come for a shoot at nine, you cannot shoot after six you are not allowed. That’s something really nice,” she said, noting that Hindi film shoots often stretch late into the night.
Jatadhara is set around the mysteries of the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple, blending mythology with supernatural themes. Sonakshi shared that director Venkat Kalyan gave her complete freedom to shape her character. “When the first shot happened, he said, ‘This is my Dhanapisachini,’” she recalled.