Nandamuri Balakrishna is already planning two steps ahead. While he’s busy shooting for Gopichand Malineni’s film, which is aiming for a Dasara 2026 release, NBK has quietly set his sights on Sankranthi 2027. Pongal has always been his strong zone, and he doesn’t want to miss it.
Over the last few months, he’s been meeting directors, trying to lock a script that can be wrapped fast without compromising on impact. Talks with Harish Shankar didn’t work out, and a project with Naandhi director Vijay Kanakamedala also stayed at the discussion stage. Now, sources say Balakrishna has finalized Koratala Siva for his next. It’s a big move, especially after Koratala’s Devara with NTR.
Unlike Devara, which was heavy on scale and VFX, this Balakrishna film is said to be more rooted and message-driven. Think early Koratala Siva, strong emotions, commercial punch, and social relevance like Mirchi or Bharat Ane Nenu. The idea is to skip long CG timelines and keep the shoot tight. That gives them a real shot at hitting Sankranthi 2027.
Industry chatter says Koratala has already narrated a one liner that Balakrishna loved, and full script work is happening at brisk pace. Reports also suggest that the film will have a strong rural backdrop, something Balayya fans enjoy. The combo is fresh, and if Koratala plays to Balakrishna’s strengths, powerful dialogues, high-voltage action, and a solid emotional core, it could be a winner.
But the clock is ticking. Sankranthi 2027 isn’t far when you count pre-production, shoot, and post. Everything has to go smoothly. To add to the suspense, Balakrishna’s film with Gopichand Malineni is still filming. If that project gets delayed, there’s talk it could slide to Sankranthi 2027 itself, which would change all current plans. For now, Sankranthi 2027 is the goal.