Kingdom is a 2025 Indian Telugu-language action thriller film written and directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri. Co-produced by Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under the banners of Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, the film stars Vijay Deverakonda alongside Satyadev and Bhagyashri Borse. It is intended to be the first installment of a planned duology,^[5] and follows a troubled police officer who is assigned to go undercover on a case that brings him face-to-face with his past demons.

The film was officially announced in January 2023 under the tentative title VD12, and the official title was announced in February 2025. Principal photography commenced in June 2023. Filming took place in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Kerala and Sri Lanka. The film has music composed by Anirudh Ravichander,^[6] cinematography handled by Girish Gangadharan with Jomon T. John and editing by Naveen Nooli.

Kingdom was released worldwide on 31 July 2025 to mixed reviews from critics and audience.^[7] The film grossed ₹82.02 crore worldwide and underperformed at the box office, becoming an average grosser.^[8]

In 1920 Srikakulam, a group of tribals along with their king, try to stop the massacre of their people by the British, for mining gold. However, they are unsuccessful in doing so and their king dies without telling the survivors of the massacre about a prophesied descendant of their tribe. In 1991, Constable Surya "Suri", a young and aggressive, but well-mannered police officer who, after being separated from his elder brother, Siva, during their childhood, is recruited by a spy handler, JP, to go on an undercover mission.

His objective is to infiltrate the heavily fortified island off of Sri Lanka, known as "Divi", in the midst of the Sri Lankan civil war. He accomplishes this by instigating a brawl during a temple festival and getting himself arrested and sent to the island's prison, a place notorious for its brutal and lawless conditions. Upon his arrival, Suri is shocked to find that his long-lost brother, Siva, is the leader of the descendants of the tribe from 1920 who have relocated to Divi to escape the British. The two brothers, now on opposite sides of a brewing conflict, are reunited under tense and dangerous circumstances.

Suri's mission becomes more complex as he struggles to balance his loyalty to his country and his newfound connection with his brother. He gains favor within the prison's hierarchy and the trust of Siva. During a critical moment, Suri is tasked with a dangerous operation to retrieve a massive gold haul from the occupying Sri Lankan army. His success in this mission makes him a celebrated figure among the island's residents and strengthens his position.

However, the island's main leader, Murugan, who is part of the Sri Lankan cartel and comes from a Tamil-speaking family that rules over the residents with an iron fist, grows suspicious of Suri. His paranoia intensifies after he brutally murders the former leader of the island, Oddiyapan, his father and realizes there is a mole within their ranks. Murugan begins to believe that Siva is the traitor. After a confrontation, Siva admits to his brother's role as a spy and is mercilessly killed by Murugan along with many residents.

Suri learns of his brother's fate and Murugan's massacre. Embracing his true purpose and driven by an amalgamation of fury and grief, he unleashes his full potential to avenge Siva and the residents' deaths and liberate the remaining people of Divi. A fierce battle ensues where Suri confronts and kills Murugan, fulfilling the prophecy that he is the reincarnation of the past king. He then assumes leadership of Divi, as king for the people in need of a savior. In a twist, Sethu, Odiyappan's second son and Murugan's brother, arrives in Divi to avenge his kin, hinting at a sequel.

• Vijay Deverakonda as Constable Surya "Suri"
  • Ronit Kamra as young Suri
• Satyadev as Siva, Suri's elder brother
  • Kothala Bhanu Prakash as young Siva
• Bhagyashri Borse as Dr. Madhu, Suri's love interest
• Venkitesh V. P. as Murugan
• Bhoomi Shetty as Gauri, Siva’s wife and Suri’s sister-in-law
• Manish Chaudhari as Jayapraksh alias JP, Suri's spy handler in Sri Lanka
• Ayyappa P. Sharma as Bhairaghi
• Goparaju Ramana as a Constable Rajanna, Siva's and Suri's uncle
• Rohini as Siva’s and Suri’s mother
• Muralidhar Goud as Police SI
• Baburaj as Odiyappan, Murugan’s father
• Mahesh Achanta
• Rajkumar Kasireddy
• Ajith Koshy
• Ravi Krishna
• Kancharapalem Kishore
• Abhay Bethiganti
• Keshav Deepak
• Sravan

After starting filming for Acharya in early 2021, it was reported that Gowtam Tinnanuri had met Ram Charan and narrated a script which impressed the actor. The production was reportedly set to begin after Charan completes his commitments for Acharya and RRR (2022).^[9] The project was officially announced on 15 October 2021, tentatively titled RC15.^[10][11] It would be funded by UV Creations, in association with NVR Cinema.^[12] The following August, however, it was reported that the project was shelved due to reasons unknown.^[13] That November, it was officially confirmed to have been shelved with no reasons being stated.^[14] Gowtam then reportedly visited Vijay Deverakonda and narrated the same script which also impressed the actor.^[15]

The film would be funded by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya, under Sithara Entertainments, Fortune Four Creations, and Srikara Studios. The company made a public announcement on 13 January 2023, confirming the project.^[16] In January 2025, Naga Vamsi announced that the film would be released in two parts.^[17] The film's official title as Kingdom was announced on 12 February 2025.^[18]

In June 2023, principal photography commenced in Hyderabad.^[19][20] However, filming was delayed due to Vijay's ongoing commitments, Kushi and The Family Star. Filming resumed in April 2024 in Visakhapatnam with a month-long schedule.^[21][22] The third schedule commenced in July 2024 in Sri Lanka with 60% of the filming completed. Filming then began in areas Kothamangalam, Thandikudi and Nagercoil.^[23][24][25] In September 2024, the fourth schedule commenced in Kerala.^[26][27] In November 2024, Devarakonda suffered a minor shoulder injury on sets.^[28][29] As of January 2025, 80% of the filming was completed.^[30][31]