‘Naam hai Shikanja Maalik’: First look poster out for Mohan Babu's fiery comeback in ‘The Paradise’

The highly anticipated film The Paradise, starring  'Natural Star' Nani, is gearing up for a grand release on March 26, 2026.

The makers unveiled the first look poster of the film’s antagonist, legendary actor Mohan Babu, who plays the menacing Shikanja Maalik. The actor makes a striking return to the big screen in a role tailor-made to revive his iconic movie charm. The poster shows him shirtless, holding a bloodied hand to a cigar, donning dark glasses that intensify his ominous aura — a visual that promises a powerful and intimidating villain.

Nani, who portrays the character Jadal, shared the poster on social media, writing:

“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.”

The makers had earlier released a video titled ‘The Paradise Glimpse : RAW STATEMENT’ on March 3, 2023, on SLV Cinemas’ YouTube channel. Directed by Srikanth Odela, the rustic action drama promises to be a gripping cinematic experience, packed with raw intensity and vivid storytelling. The project is produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the banner of SLV Cinemas and boasts a soundtrack by acclaimed composer Anirudh Ravichander.

Following his critically acclaimed directorial debut with Dasara, which became Nani’s highest-grossing film, Srikanth Odela reunites with the star to deliver an even more intense narrative. Early glimpses suggest The Paradise will showcase greater rawness and depth than its predecessor. Set in a slum of Secunderabad, the plot reportedly features a marginalised tribe’s fight against systemic oppression.

The film will be released across eight languages — Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, English, and Spanish — emphasising its international appeal.

Mohan Babu reportedly accepted the role immediately, impressed by the script’s strong writing and Srikanth Odela’s vision. His character is expected to deliver memorable dialogue and exhibit commanding presence, adding significant weight to the film’s dramatic confrontations with Nani’s character.

With Mohan Babu’s villainous comeback and Nani’s intense performance under Odela’s direction, The Paradise is poised to captivate audiences worldwide as a major cinematic spectacle in 2026.