Malavika Mohanan is set to make her Telugu film debut alongside Prabhas in the upcoming horror-comedy The Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi. The film is slated for release on January 9, 2026, coinciding with Sankranti.

Mohanan expressed her excitement about working in the Telugu film industry and acting alongside Prabhas. She stated that it was her dream to work in Telugu cinema and that she wanted her first Telugu film to be special. According to The Times of India, at the pre-release event of The Raja Saab, Mohanan shared her happiness, stating that she always loved Telugu films and never thought she would debut opposite "India's biggest superstar".

In an interview with Filmy Focus, Mohanan revealed that she was initially considered for a role in Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, another Prabhas starrer directed by Prashanth Neel. She recounted meeting Neel in Bengaluru and undergoing a look test. However, things didn't work out for undisclosed reasons. Despite feeling underwhelmed at the time, Mohanan believes it was "destiny" that she ultimately made her Telugu debut with Prabhas in The Raja Saab.

Mohanan praised Prabhas as one of the sweetest people she has worked with and thanked him for the honor of sharing the screen with him. She also thanked director Maruthi for giving her a strong, multifaceted role in the film. According to The Times of India, she humorously noted that Maruthi gave her "songs, romance, comedy, drama, and action, in a film that stars the Action King".

The actress has also spoken about her role of Bhairavi in The Raja Saab, describing it as vibrant and mentioning that she had to perform cute sequences, funny scenes, action sequences, and songs. She also mentioned that director Maruthi would joke that he had given her a full portfolio, showcasing her in multiple avatars within a single film.

The Raja Saab also stars Nidhhi Agerwal and Riddhi Kumar. According to Republic World, the pre-sales are progressing at a slower pace than Prabhas' recent action movies like Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD.