Mohan Babu returns as dark lord Shikanja Maalik in The Paradise, first look poster out now! : Bollywood News

The makers of The Paradise, starring Natural Star Nani, have revealed the poster of the film’s antagonist, played by veteran actor Mohan Babu. The first-look poster presents his character, Shikanja Maalik, in a striking avatar.

Mohan Babu returns as dark lord Shikanja Maalik in The Paradise, first look poster out now!

In the poster, Mohan Babu is seen with blood-stained hands, a cigar between his fingers, and wearing dark glasses that highlight his intense look. The image reflects an aura of authority and menace, in line with his character’s name, Shikanja.

This film marks Mohan Babu’s return in a prominent villainous role. His rugged look and strong screen presence set the stage for an engaging clash with Nani, who is said to portray a character with emotional depth and complexity.

Sharing the poster on social media, the makers of Nani wrote, “Naam hai ‘SHIKANJA MAALIK’. The Dark Lord of cinema rises again. Bringing back The Legendary @themohanbabu Garu as ‘SHIKANJA MAALIK’ in #TheParadise to reclaim the peak villainism. In CINEMAS 26th March, 2026. Releasing in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, English, and Spanish.”

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A post shared by The Paradise (@theparadisemovie)

The Paradise is directed by Srikanth Odela, known for his distinctive storytelling style. He made his debut with Dasara, which received critical appreciation and achieved significant box office success by crossing the Rs. 100 crores mark, becoming the highest-grossing film in Nani’s career. With only a few projects to his name, Odela has quickly gained recognition, and expectations are high for The Paradise.

The Paradise has been produced by SLV Cinemas, headed by Sudhakar Cherukuri. They are known for producing the successful film Dasara. Now, with The Paradise, they are set to deliver yet another mega cinematic spectacle.

Backed by SLV Cinemas, The Paradise is directed by Srikanth Odela with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander. Scheduled for release on March 26, 2026, the film will be launched in eight languages Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, English, Spanish, Bengali, Kannada, and Malayalam aiming to reach a wide audience across different regions.

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