Nikhil, who broke out across India with the sensational success of Karthikeya 2, is now ready to step into theatres as a fierce warrior with his 20th film, Swayambhu.
This ambitious Pan-India period action drama, directed by Bharat Krishnamachari and produced by Bhuvan and Sreekar under Pixel Studios, with Tagore Madhu presenting, is done with its shoot.
After an intense production journey spanning nearly two years and 170 shooting days, the team has officially wrapped the shoot, setting February 13th, 2026, as the worldwide theatrical release date to coincide with Maha Shivaratri.
Mounted on a lavish scale, Swayambhu aspires to celebrate India’s glorious past through the story of a mighty warrior whose courage helped shape a golden era, blending historical inspiration with grand spectacle aimed at audiences across languages.
A specially cut making video underlines how a single film idea evolved into an entire universe brought alive through expansive sets erected over acres, intricate production design, and massive investment from the producers to achieve authenticity.
Nikhil speaks of the journey as both grueling and rewarding, unveiling his trusted horse Maruthi and acknowledging the dedication of the technical crew that helped him deliver a physically demanding performance.
In fact, Nikhil achieved a chiseled physique and underwent a tough training to portray the character of a warrior. What's more, he personally dubbed for his character in the Hindi version, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the story.
Swayambhu boasts a star-studded and technically solid lineup, with Samyuktha and Nabha Natesh playing the female leads opposite Nikhil.
KK Senthil Kumar handles the cinematography, while blockbuster composer Ravi Basrur scores the music, and production designers M. Prabhaharan and Raveendar architect the sprawling period world.
The announcement video promises an epic and never-before-seen experience with Swayambhu.
