The first look of the Kannada film Hercules, starring actor Virat, was released at Forum Mall near Konanakunte in Bengaluru. The event featured a 200-foot-tall title poster of the film displayed on the building’s façade in the presence of the media. Hercules marks the first-ever Kannada film collaboration with ChatGPT, a concept already seen in several Bollywood productions.
Hercules is Virat’s third film. After debuting with Kiss and later appearing in Royal, the actor now takes on a mass role in Hercules. The film is written and directed by young filmmaker Bhageerath and produced under the banner of Aahana Films. The team organised a press meet to share details about the project and reveal the film’s first look.
Director Bhageerath clarified that Hercules does not refer to the bicycle brand but to a warrior. He described the title as representing his 12-year journey in cinema, during which he worked as an assistant director on several films and trained under director Srinivas Raju. Writing, he said, has always been his passion—he had previously written a web series titled Ameeba.
Speaking about the story, Bhageerath said Hercules is about a warrior who has never faced defeat, and the protagonist’s character reflects this quality. The film blends action and romance. The director added that the team aims to present Virat in a completely new light.
The technical crew includes Karunakar as cinematographer, Adi Hari—son of music composer V. Harikrishna—as the music director, and Deepu S. Kumar as the editor. The female lead is from Karnataka, and her name will be announced soon. The film’s shooting is planned to begin in November, with a release targeted for March or April next year.
Actor Virat described Hercules as an “organic effort,” stating that the title launch was made possible through the support of fans and the media. He said the film’s story revolves around a warrior who fights for others and has never lost a battle, with the core of the film exploring who he fights for. Virat added that he portrays three shades of his character, shifting from his previous lover-boy image to an action-laced romantic role. He mentioned undergoing major physical and appearance transformations for the role.
Music composer Adi Hari, son of V. Harikrishna, shared that Hercules is his first independent project as a music director. He said he has been working on the background score for two weeks and is composing unique songs for the film.
The film is produced by an overseas-based producer under the banner of Aahana Films, with Gururaj M. Desai serving as the creative head. The young team plans to reveal more updates about Hercules in the coming days.