The world of Mahakali is getting bigger.
Actor Jitin Gulati has joined the cast of the upcoming Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe film, adding another important character to a story that already has Akshaye Khanna, Bhoomi Shetty and Rohit Saraf in major roles.
The film is now in an advanced stage of production and is scheduled to release worldwide on January 8, 2027.
Jitin Gulati’s Character Will Arrive at a Crucial Point
The makers are still keeping Jitin’s character name under wraps, but the actor has revealed enough to make the role sound important.
According to Jitin, his character enters the story at a pivotal point, changes the pace of the narrative and has a major impact on how Mahakali reaches its conclusion. He has also described the part as one of the most demanding roles he has taken on so far.
That instantly makes his casting interesting.
This does not sound like a brief appearance added simply to expand the ensemble. His character appears to be designed as someone who arrives when the stakes are already high and pushes the story into its final stretch.
Jitin has also spoken about director Puja Kolluru’s vision for the role, saying that her approach to the character and its emotional journey was one of the main reasons he was excited to take it on.
Akshaye Khanna Steps In as Shukracharya
Jitin joins a cast that already has one of its biggest talking points in Akshaye Khanna as Shukracharya.
The film’s first glimpse, titled Shukracharya’s War Cry, introduced Akshaye as the powerful guru of the Asuras and set up the larger conflict at the heart of the film. His character is shown preparing for war, with the story building towards a battle between destructive forces and the divine power of Maa Kali.
Akshaye’s intense look and measured screen presence have already made Shukracharya one of the most discussed characters from the film.
Bhoomi Shetty Leads the Story
At the centre of Mahakali is Bhoomi Shetty, who plays the lead role.
The actress has spoken about how deeply the character affected her personally, describing the experience as one that helped her discover a stronger side of herself.
The film also stars Rohit Saraf, who makes his Telugu film debut with the project, alongside Sriya Reddy, Rakesh Bedi, Samuthirakani, Rajat Kapoor, Murali Sharma and Nassar.
That makes Mahakali a fairly packed ensemble, but the first glimpse suggests the film is keeping a clear focus on its central conflict rather than simply using the cast for scale.
Mahakali Expands the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe
Mahakali is directed by Puja Aparna Kolluru, with the story written by Prasanth Varma.
The film is part of the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe, which began with Hanu Man. Jitin has said that watching Hanu Man made him actively want to work with Varma, and he eventually landed the project after industry contacts helped connect him with the team.
The film is being mounted on a large scale and is planned for release in multiple Indian and international languages, including an IMAX 3D presentation.
A New Character, But Plenty of Mystery
For now, the most interesting thing about Jitin Gulati’s casting is how little has actually been revealed.
We know his character matters. We know he enters at an important stage. And we know he has a role in driving the film towards its conclusion.
Everything else is still under wraps.
And considering how much Mahakali has already managed to tease without giving away too much, that mystery may be exactly where it should stay for now.