Sobhita Dhulipala's latest Telugu venture, "Cheekatilo," has emerged as a significant success for Prime Video, marking the biggest South Original debut on the platform. The crime suspense drama, which premiered globally on January 23, 2026, has garnered impressive viewership, demonstrating the growing demand for female-led narratives and the appeal of compelling stories that transcend language barriers.
Directed by Sharan Koppishetty and produced by D. Suresh Babu under Suresh Productions Pvt. Ltd., "Cheekatilo" features Dhulipala in the lead role as Sandhya, a true-crime podcaster. The story revolves around Sandhya's relentless pursuit of justice after her intern's mysterious death unravels a chilling trail of brutal crimes set against the backdrop of Hyderabad. Alongside Dhulipala, the film stars Viswadev Rachakonda, Chaitanya Visalakshmi, Esha Chawla, Jhansi, Aamani, and Vadlamani Srinivas in pivotal roles.
"Cheekatilo" has resonated strongly with audiences across India, with viewership spanning 89% of the country's pin codes. Its top trending performance during the launch weekend further solidifies Prime Video's position as a preferred platform for bold, character-driven stories that deeply connect with viewers both in India and globally.
Nikhil Madhok, Director & Head of Originals, Prime Video India, noted that the phenomenal response to "Cheekatilo" underscores the strong momentum of their South Originals slate and the increasing appeal of compelling female-led stories among viewers across regions and demographics. He added that the Telugu crime suspense kept audiences riveted from start to finish, which is a testament to its gripping story, memorable performances, and compelling vision. Madhok emphasized that "Cheekatilo" exemplifies how rooted stories with real-world settings are establishing Prime Video as the destination for bold, genre-driven narratives that empower creators to bring passion-led stories to life.
While some reviews point out that the execution of the concept could have been stronger, particularly in maintaining sustained tension, Dhulipala's performance has been widely praised. Critics note that she convincingly portrays the inner pain of a woman haunted by unresolved truths, handling the role with ease and showcasing a new dimension to her acting.
"Cheekatilo" marks Dhulipala's return to Telugu cinema after a long gap and her debut in the Telugu OTT space. Dhulipala, who was Femina Miss India Earth 2013, made her acting debut in Anurag Kashyap's "Raman Raghav 2.0" (2016) and gained recognition for her lead role in the Amazon Prime Video series "Made in Heaven". She has since appeared in commercially successful films across various languages, including "Goodachari" (2018), "Major" (2022), and "Ponniyin Selvan: I & II" (2022, 2023).
"Cheekatilo" is available for streaming in Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil on Amazon Prime Video. The film's success highlights the growing popularity of South Indian content and the increasing demand for diverse and engaging stories on streaming platforms.