Rashmika and I shot at the dumpyard for 6-7 hours for Kuberaa: Dhanush

The Mumbai promotions for Sekhar Kammula’s much-awaited Kuberaa turned into a star-studded affair, with Dhanush, Nagarjuna Akkineni and Rashmika Mandanna sharing the stage. But it was Dhanush’s heartfelt reflections that stole the spotlight.

The National Award-winning actor took a nostalgic detour, recalling how shooting for Kuberaa felt like a homecoming. “We shot in dumpyards for six-seven hours, and Rashmika was absolutely fine! I asked her, ‘Rashmika, what is this?’ and she said, ‘I don’t smell anything!’” Dhanush quipped, brushing off reports of the shoot being a major challenge. “We wore masks, but honestly, it wasn’t a big deal. It’s all part of the job.”

Dhanush got candid about his journey: “You’re always in your comfort zone, but seeing another side of the world, something you’re not exposed to-is enlightening. I come from very humble beginnings. Being back in that environment brought back memories. I am grateful to this film for taking me back to my childhood.”Rashmika added, “The high point for me was shooting in that dumpyard for six hours.”

On breaking the shackles of typecasting over his two-decade-long career, Dhanush credited his directors, “I’m like a processor. My directors feed me the data, I just process it. The credit goes to the filmmakers.

Kuberaa, starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna and Rashmika is set for a grand theatrical release on June 20, 2025, after a brief delay. Shot in Tamil and Telugu, with a simultaneous release in Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi, this pan-India socio-drama promises to bring back glory to the struggling box office in the Telugu states.