Raghava Lawrence is set to portray the legendary warrior Karna in director Ramesh Varma’s upcoming mythological epic Mahaveer Karna. The film is being mounted on a reported budget of Rs 150 crore and is planned for a five-language theatrical release, marking Lawrence’s first major venture into mythology.

Raghava Lawrence Unveiled as Karna
The makers of Mahaveer Karna have officially revealed Raghava Lawrence’s first look as Karna, one of the most prominent characters from the Mahabharata. The poster presents Lawrence in a completely different avatar from the commercial and action-oriented roles he is widely known for. Pen Movies introduced the first look with the tagline “A Face. A Legend. A Warrior” and described the project as Lawrence’s first foray into the mythological genre.

Lawrence Expresses Gratitude for the Role
Sharing the first-look poster in multiple languages, Raghava Lawrence said he felt happy and blessed to portray Karna. The actor also thanked director Ramesh Varma for bringing the script to him and said he was beginning the journey with gratitude and humility. Karna remains one of the most layered figures in Indian mythology, remembered for his courage, generosity, loyalty and complex relationship with identity, rejection and fate.

Rs 150 Crore Epic Planned in Five Languages
Directed by Ramesh Varma, Mahaveer Karna is being designed as a large-scale retelling of Karna’s story. Presented by Jayantilal Gada, the film is produced by Pen Movies, Sri Neeladri Productions and RV Studios. It is reportedly being made on a budget of Rs 150 crore and is planned for release in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada, giving the project a wide pan-India reach.

Hybrid Visual Spectacle Set for December 2026
The film is described as a hybrid live-action epic that will combine live-action filmmaking with extensive visual effects. The makers are aiming to recreate Karna’s world with kingdoms, warriors and large-scale battle sequences playing a major role in the visual presentation. The technical team includes Ramji Dott as cinematographer and hybrid creator, Prawin Pudi as editor, Shreemani as dialogue writer and Gnaani as music composer. Production design and VFX are also expected to be central to building the mythological setting. Mahaveer Karna is currently scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on December 4, 2026.