Annapurna Studios unveils the title and first glimpse of Nagarjuna Akkineni’s milestone 100th film on the actor’s birthday, with a worldwide release set for Christmas.
Telugu superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni’s landmark 100th film has been officially titled King100 and will release in cinemas worldwide on December 24, 2026, the makers announced on Saturday.
The announcement was made by Annapurna Studios, which is producing the film, on the occasion of Nagarjuna’s birthday. Alongside the title, the makers unveiled the film’s much-anticipated first glimpse, offering audiences their first look at a project that had been kept largely under wraps throughout its year-long production. The reveal marked the actor’s 67th birthday with a gift for the fans who had been awaiting news of the milestone film.
Reaching 100 films is a rare achievement in Indian cinema, and the milestone carries particular weight for Nagarjuna, who has spent close to four decades as one of the most influential figures in the Telugu film industry. Across his career he has moved between commercial entertainers, romantic dramas, devotional films, and experimental projects, while also building Annapurna Studios into one of the industry’s most established production houses. For an actor who has completed 99 films to date, King100 stands as both a personal landmark and a celebration of a career that has spanned generations.
The choice of a Christmas release adds to the anticipation. The December 24 date places the film in the middle of a busy festive period, a window traditionally seen as favorable at the Indian box office, and one that has become increasingly competitive as major releases jostle for holiday audiences. With its high-profile cast and the significance of the occasion, King100 has quickly emerged as one of the more keenly awaited Telugu releases of the year.
What the King100 first glimpse revealed
The glimpse introduces Nagarjuna in a stylish, larger-than-life avatar, opening with a voiceover reflecting on society’s divide between the rich and the poor. It goes on to present his character as a businessman drawn into financial frauds and scams who manages to stay one step ahead of the law.
In the narration, he notes that people called him a “loser” when he had no money but began calling him “King” once he became wealthy, adding that this identity is more powerful than money and one he must work hard to protect. The glimpse closes with a shot of Nagarjuna holding a baby, hinting at an emotional layer to the story, before revealing the title and release date.
The film has been written and directed by Tamil filmmaker Ra. Karthik, who is making his Telugu debut, and is described as a commercial entertainer built around a strong emotional core. It features music by Devi Sri Prasad, whose energetic score featured prominently in the glimpse, along with cinematography by Raja Mahadhevan and editing by Navin Nooli. The cast is led by Nagarjuna alongside Tabu, Aishwarya Rajesh, Sushmita Bhat, and Upendra, with the film mounted on a large scale by Annapurna Studios, the banner run by the Akkineni family.
The 100-film mark reflects a career of remarkable longevity in an industry where staying relevant across decades is no small feat. Nagarjuna made his debut in the mid-1980s and went on to become one of Telugu cinema’s most bankable and versatile stars, equally at home in mass entertainers and more restrained, content-driven work. His willingness to back experimental films, alongside crowd-pleasers, has helped him remain a fixture across changing eras of the industry.
Beyond acting, his role as a producer and studio head has given him a lasting influence on Telugu filmmaking, with Annapurna Studios nurturing talent both in front of and behind the camera. King100 brings those threads together, pairing a veteran star with a debut Telugu director and a large-scale production. For Nagarjuna and his fans, the film is set to be a fitting celebration of a century of work and the beginning of the next chapter in a career that shows little sign of slowing down.
