Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu

Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu (“Our Mr. Shankara Vara Prasad”) is a 2026 Telugu action comedy written and directed by Anil Ravipudi, with Chiranjeevi as Shankara Vara Prasad, a security officer who sees a chance to win back his estranged wife and children when he is assigned to protect them. Venkatesh, Nayanthara and Catherine Tresa co-star. It opened in theatres on 12 January 2026 for Sankranti, runs 165 minutes, and has streamed on ZEE5 since 11 February 2026.

What the story is about

Shankara Vara Prasad, a National Security Guard officer, marries Sasirekha (Nayanthara), but a bitter clash with her father GVR (Sachin Khedekar), a powerful businessman, ends the marriage. Six years later, still separated from his children, Prasad takes a job as a PT teacher at their boarding school under a new identity to get close to them. When an attempt is made on GVR’s life, Prasad is put in charge of the family’s security, which brings him back into the household he was thrown out of. The film plays the reunion for comedy and family drama, with action around the threat; we stop at the set-up here.

Cast and characters

• Chiranjeevi as Shankara Vara Prasad
• Venkatesh as Venky Gowda
• Nayanthara as Sasirekha
• Catherine Tresa as Jwala
• Sachin Khedekar as GVR, Sasirekha’s father, and Zarina Wahab as Prasad’s mother
• Harsha Vardhan as Narayana and Abhinav Gomatam as Mustafa
• Sudev Nair as Virendra Pandey, Sharat Saxena as an MP and Srinivasa Reddy as GVR’s assistant

Crew and music

• Writer-director: Anil Ravipudi, in his first film with Chiranjeevi
• Producers: Sahu Garapati and Sushmita Konidela (Shine Screens and Gold Box Entertainments)
• Music and background score: Bheems Ceciroleo

The film was launched on 30 March 2025 under the working title Mega 157, as Chiranjeevi’s 157th film as a lead actor. The title, announced in August 2025, uses Chiranjeevi’s real name, Shankara Vara Prasad. It is the first film to pair Chiranjeevi and Venkatesh on screen. Shooting took place in Hyderabad, Kerala, Mussoorie and Dehradun and wrapped on 14 December 2025.

Release and reception

Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu was released on 12 January 2026. Critics were divided: Chiranjeevi’s performance was praised, the writing less so. Suresh Kavirayani of The New Indian Express wrote that “this film belongs entirely to Chiranjeevi”, while Latha Srinivasan of NDTV (2.5/5) found that “the jokes fall flat”, and Swaroop Kodur of The Indian Express (2.5/5) said “only a few parts work well”. Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu felt the film was “weighed down by the expectations that come with pairing two superstars”.

At the box office it was a major success. Hindustan Times reported a worldwide opening-day gross of ₹65 crore, and reported worldwide lifetime figures range from ₹300 crore (Filmfare) to ₹310 crore (Deccan Chronicle).

Where to watch Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu

Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu streams on ZEE5. It premiered on the platform on 11 February 2026.

More Telugu films like this on Tollywood Desk: Nari Nari Naduma Murari, Anaganaga Oka Raju, Daaku Maharaaj.

Sources: the Wikipedia article on Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu and the reviews it summarises; box office from Hindustan Times, Filmfare and Deccan Chronicle; our own cast, crew, release and OTT records.