Movies

Varun Tej’s Korean Kanakaraju Sets Record with ₹26 Cr Non-Theatrical Deal

Varun Tej’s Korean Kanakaraju secures a record ₹26 crore in non-theatrical business, covering most of its ₹38 crore budget before release.

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Dumtika Editorial

July 24, 2026 · 1 min read

Varun Tej’s Korean Kanakaraju Sets Record with ₹26 Cr Non-Theatrical Deal

(Image: Dumtika Editorial)

Korean Kanakaraju secures ₹26 crore in non-theatrical rights pre-release

Film features Varun Tej in dual roles: Rayalaseema native and Korean mob boss

Produced by UV Creations, directed by Merlapaka Gandhi

Teaser and songs received strong positive response on social media

Varun Tej’s latest film, Korean Kanakaraju, has made headlines by closing a record-breaking non-theatrical business deal worth ₹26 crore ahead of its release. The film, directed by Merlapaka Gandhi and produced by UV Creations, was scheduled for a grand worldwide release on 7th August. This impressive pre-release achievement has generated significant attention within the Telugu film industry.

Varun Tej, known for his versatile roles, takes on two unique characters in Korean Kanakaraju: a Rayalaseema native and a Korean mob boss. This cross-cultural horror comedy has been a talking point since its first promotional material dropped, with fans and audiences showing keen interest in Varun Tej’s new look and the film’s genre-blending premise. The project’s total budget is reportedly ₹38 crore, meaning a large portion of the costs have already been recovered through non-theatrical rights.

The strong response to the film’s teaser and songs on social media has further fueled anticipation. According to reports, distributors and exhibitors are now offering substantial sums for theatrical rights, putting the producers in a favorable position with table profits even before the film’s theatrical run. The combination of Varun Tej’s performance, Satya’s comedy, and the promise of a fresh horror comedy experience has made Korean Kanakaraju one of the most talked-about upcoming releases.

With the non-theatrical business already setting new benchmarks, the film’s theatrical performance is now highly awaited by both the industry and fans.