The trailer launch of Kannappa, a pan-Indian film produced by veteran Telugu actor Mohan Babu, witnessed heartwarming camaraderie between Malayalam superstar Mohanlal and Mohan Babu himself. The two actors shared several jovial moments on stage, offering the audience a rare glimpse into their mutual respect and admiration.

Mohanlal revealed that Mohan Babu had expressed a desire to play the villain in one of his films. However, Mohanlal added with a smile, “If given the chance, I’d rather play his villain.” The exchange drew laughter and applause from those present, highlighting the friendly rapport between the two stars.

In a humorous aside, Mohanlal remarked that acting alongside Mohan Babu isn't as easy as it seems. “He might appear like a gentle soul, but he’s a hot-tempered guy — just kidding!” Mohanlal quipped, praising Mohan Babu as a genuinely kind and admirable human being.

Mohanlal further expressed his surprise when Mohan Babu, a veteran of over 560 films, approached him with a request: “Will you do a film with me? I want to play your villain,” he said. Mohanlal recounted, “I said, ‘Sir, you are the hero, I’ll be the villain. It would be an honour. Let’s definitely work on something together.’”

But as Mohan Babu insisted on playing the villain to Lal, the Mollywood superstar took the banter to the next level by saying, “If that’s the case—me being the hero—I’ll shoot you down in the very first scene,” sparking laughter among the attendees.

Kannappa, directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and produced by Mohan Babu, marks the Telugu debut of the Bollywood filmmaker. The dialogue for the film has been co-written by Singh, Vishnu Manchu, and Mohan Babu. It is set for a global release in six languages – Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, and English.

The cinematography is handled by Hollywood DOP Sheldon Chau, with action choreography by Kecha Khamphakdee and music composed by Stephen Devassy. The film promises to be a visually grand spectacle, bringing together top talent from across the Indian film industry.