Sankranthi Too Crowded? Nagarjuna Makes a Big Move With ‘King 100’

The Telugu film industry could be heading for another major box-office clash this December, with Nagarjuna Akkineni’s King 100 reportedly considering a shift from Sankranthi 2027 to the year-end release window.

The much-awaited film, directed by Ra Karthik, stars Nagarjuna in the lead, with Tabu, Sushmitha Bhat and Aishwarya Rajesh in important roles. The project was earlier expected to arrive during Sankranthi 2027, but the increasingly crowded festive lineup appears to have prompted the makers to explore December instead.

If the plan materialises, Nagarjuna could enter a high-profile December race alongside Prabhas and Nandamuri Balakrishna.

Prabhas’ Fauzi, directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, is already being lined up for December. A substantial portion of the film has reportedly been completed, with the makers eyeing December 3 for its theatrical release.

Meanwhile, Balakrishna’s NBK 111, directed by Gopichand Malineni, is also targeting the same month, with December 24 being considered. Balakrishna is expected to resume shooting in October after recovering from an injury sustained on the sets.

The decision to move King 100 to December comes against the backdrop of an already packed Sankranthi 2027 calendar. Several major projects, including films featuring Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh, Kalyan Ram, Ravi Teja, Sharwanand and Sai Durgha Tej, are competing for the festival window.

For Nagarjuna, December could therefore offer a relatively strategic launchpad while also setting up one of the year's biggest Telugu cinema face-offs.

More clarity is expected around August 29, Nagarjuna’s birthday. The makers are reportedly planning a special glimpse or announcement, which could also reveal the film’s release plans.

If confirmed, December 2026 could become a blockbuster battleground, putting three major Telugu stars in the spotlight just weeks before the Sankranthi season.