KD, directed by Prem and starring Dhruva Sarja, is among the films that have drawn significant attention this year. The teaser of this pan-India film was released at Lulu Mall. After teaser launches in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kochi in four languages, the Kannada teaser was launched in Bengaluru.
Bollywood actors Sanjay Dutt and Shilpa Shetty, who are part of the cast, were present at the event. Also present on stage were Ravichandran, Ramesh Aravind, lead actress Reeshma Nanaiah, producer K. Venkat Narayan, director Prem, and Anand from Anand Audio.
South Indian production house KVN Productions has invested heavily in this project.
Producer Venkat Narayan stated that the character introduction teaser showcased all the roles in the film. He added that the film includes action and family emotions. He mentioned that Dhruva Sarja, Ravichandran, Shilpa Shetty, and Reeshma are playing roles they have not done before, and that director Prem has spent three years designing these characters. He added that all characters in the film are seen wielding machetes, with the reason behind this tied to the character Satyavati, due to whom Dhruva and Ramesh appear violent. Two songs have already been released, and four more remain in the film. The film is slated for release in October this year.
Sanjay Dutt said that he is playing a dangerous villain named “Dhak Deva” in KD. He also commented that Dhruva Sarja is not just a Kannada actor but an Indian actor.
Shilpa Shetty mentioned that this is her first time portraying a 1970s woman named Satyavati and that she visited Bengaluru three times for the role.
Dhruva Sarja thanked KVN Productions for the opportunity to work with such a large cast and said he learned a lot from Sanjay Dutt and Shilpa Shetty. He described director Prem as someone who is never satisfied and continues pushing until his vision is fully realized.
Director Prem, known for high-budget songs, said that in KD too, the songs are given importance equal to the story and making. The “Shiva Shiva” song features rich visuals and elaborate production, which the teaser attempts to reflect.
Prem also said that KVN Productions made no compromises in terms of scale and supported the film with their vision. The film is based on a real gangster story from 1970–75. The name KD refers to Kalidasa, who is portrayed as both innocent and raw. Mohan B. Kere recreated a 1970s Bengaluru set, and Arjun Janya composed the music. Prem commented on the need for internal unity in the Kannada film industry and revealed that the shoot spanned 160 to 180 days.
Lead actress Reeshma Nanaiah said she had much to learn during the making of the film and thanked director Prem for offering her a second opportunity. She said KD will appeal to family audiences.
William David, known for Vikrant Rona, handled cinematography. Along with Sanjay Dutt and Shilpa Shetty, Bollywood actors including Nora Fatehi are also part of the cast.