The first glimpse of the upcoming period drama Ranabaali, directed by Rahul Sankrityan, has sparked considerable discussion, including speculation about the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in its creation. Released on Republic Day, the glimpse offers a peek into the world of Ranabaali, a film set in the pre-Independence era starring Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna, and Arnold Vosloo.

Following the release of the first look, some viewers raised questions about the possibility of AI involvement in the video's production. Director Rahul Sankrityan has responded to this speculation, clarifying that significant time and effort were invested in the film's creation.

Ranabaali marks a significant step for Rahul Sankrityan, known for directing Taxiwaala and Shyam Singha Roy. With Ranabaali, he ventures into a larger historical narrative, drawing inspiration from real incidents that occurred between 1850 and 1900. These are events that Sankrityan believes have been either misrepresented or erased from mainstream historical accounts. The film aims to revisit the stories of individuals once labeled as rebels or savages.

The film reunites Vijay Deverakonda with Rahul Sankrityan after their previous collaboration in Taxiwaala. Ranabaali also marks the third collaboration between Vijay Deverakonda and production house Mythri Movie Makers, following Dear Comrade and Khushi. Furthermore, it brings Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna together on screen again after Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade. In Ranabaali, Rashmika Mandanna plays the role of Jayamma. Arnold Vosloo, known for his role in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, joins the cast as Sir Theodore Hector, a British Raj officer.

The film is slated for a worldwide release on September 11, 2026, in multiple languages including Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam. The music is composed by Ajay-Atul, and the film is presented by T-Series. Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar are producing Ranabaali, with Anurag Parvathaneni and Shiv Chanana serving as co-producers. Netflix has secured the OTT rights for the film.

The initial glimpse of Ranabaali sets the stage by depicting the harsh realities of British rule in India, highlighting the suffering inflicted upon regions deliberately turned into drought zones under officials like Sir Richard Temple. The narrative emphasizes events described as "a genocide worse than Hitler's Holocaust and the massive economic exploitation of India," aiming to create a strong emotional impact. The film is not based on anyone's life, but it is said to be an account of events not represented in Indian history books.

The crew includes Nirav Shah as the cinematographer, Karthika Srinivas R as the editor, Shivam Rao Nagasani as the production designer, Vithal Kosanam as the art director, and Yannick Ben, Andy Long Nguyen, and Rabin Subbu as action choreographers. Pramod Tammineni is the writer for Ranabaali.