Tabu turns fierce politician Mahanthi Jhansi Rani in Nagarjuna's King100 first look
On her birthday, Tabu's first look as political leader Mahanthi Jhansi Rani in Nagarjuna's 100th film King100 is out. The Telugu action drama hits cinemas on 24 December 2026.
Tabu has picked a fine way to mark her birthday: by looking like the most dangerous person in the room. On 4 November, Annapurna Studios unveiled her first look as Mahanthi Jhansi Rani in King100, Nagarjuna Akkineni's 100th film as a lead actor, along with a character glimpse that sets her up as a powerful political leader. The Telugu action drama, written and directed by R.A. Karthik, opens in cinemas worldwide on 24 December 2026.
Meet Mahanthi Jhansi Rani
The glimpse is short, moody and drenched in red. Tabu appears in a series of sarees, poised and fully in command, with a nameplate reading Mahanthi Jhansi Rani and a scene of her taking the oath of office. The hints point to a character from a royal family who has moved into politics, and who has very little patience for anyone hoping to coast through life.
That is spelt out in her voiceover, which splits the world into two kinds of people: those who believe in hard work and those who believe in luck. Jhansi Rani has made her choice, and luck is not on her side of the table. One line on screen sums up the mood: this time, it's not love.
Why the reunion matters
That line is a wink at history. Tabu and Nagarjuna first paired up in the 1996 Telugu romance Ninne Pelladata, and they last shared the screen in Aavida Maa Aavide in 1998. Almost three decades later, the two are back in the same frame, and this time the chemistry looks a lot more combative.
For Hindi-film audiences, this is also a reminder of how freely Tabu moves between industries. The actor who has kept Bollywood on its toes with sharp, unpredictable roles is now headlining the opposition in a landmark Telugu film, and the first look suggests she is not there to play second fiddle.
What we know about King100
King100 is a milestone project for Nagarjuna and for Annapurna Studios, the banner founded by his father, the late Akkineni Nageswara Rao. The makers announced the title on Nagarjuna's birthday in August 2026 with a glimpse of his own character, a stylish, larger-than-life figure who talks about a world split between people with money and people without.
- Lead: Nagarjuna Akkineni, in his 100th film
- Also starring: Tabu as Mahanthi Jhansi Rani, with Ashok Selvan in the cast
- Writer-director: R.A. Karthik
- Producer: Annapurna Studios
- Music: Devi Sri Prasad
- Cinematography: Raja Mahadhevan; editing: Navin Nooli; production design: Sathees Kumar N
- Release: In cinemas worldwide on 24 December 2026
With Devi Sri Prasad on music, expect at least one track to take over your feed well before the Christmas release. The character glimpse and Nagarjuna's August teaser are out on the studio's official channels if you want to judge the vibe for yourself.
The FHM take
Birthday first looks are usually a soft-focus smile and a hashtag. Tabu got an oath of office and a line declaring war on luck, which is far more fun. Casting her as Nagarjuna's opponent rather than his love interest is the smartest move King100 has made so far: it turns a nostalgic reunion into a proper face-off. If the film delivers half the menace of this glimpse, the Christmas box office is going to have a very stylish queen to deal with.
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