Siddaramaiah to Play Chief Minister in New Kannada Film

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is preparing for an unusual new role away from politics. He is set to appear in a Kannada feature film, where he will play a chief minister. The project is being developed by director, producer and actor Rajesh Gowda under the RA Film Factory banner.

The film is expected to carry the title Mukhyamantri, although the title has not been presented as final in the available reports. Siddaramaiah has reportedly heard the story and agreed to take up the important character at the centre of the film.

What makes the project unusual is not only the presence of a former chief minister but also the production plan. The filmmakers are preparing for a 48 hour Script to Screen challenge. The team intends to complete writing, shooting, post production, clearances and a theatrical screening within two days. The main production sprint is planned for November.

For Siddaramaiah, this will be his first full length commercial film appearance. Acting itself, however, is not completely unfamiliar territory for him. During his student years, he participated in stage plays, giving him some earlier experience with performance.

He also appeared in Kavitha Lankeshs 2017 childrens film Summer Holidays. Reports from the time said he appeared as himself in the film, making his latest project a considerably larger acting assignment.

The new film is being planned as more than a conventional entertainment project. The filmmakers are attempting to bring several political personalities into the cast, creating an unusual combination of public figures and cinema.

Former minister HM Revanna has already been associated with the project, according to reports. The team has also approached Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao about appearing in the film. Their participation will depend on whether they agree to take part.

The possibility of several political personalities appearing together has added another layer of curiosity around the project. However, the confirmed details currently centre on Siddaramaiah and the proposed 48 hour production challenge, while other appearances remain subject to approval.

The filmmakers are aiming to complete an unusually large number of production stages within a very short period. Writing a script, organising the cast, shooting scenes, completing editing and post production, obtaining the necessary clearances and presenting the finished film in theatres within 48 hours would make the project highly demanding.

The planned schedule also means that the team will have little room for delays once the challenge begins. Every stage would have to be closely coordinated, from the availability of actors to the technical work required after filming.

Siddaramaiahs decision to participate gives the project an additional point of interest because he is entering a fictional screen role after spending decades in public life. Unlike his earlier brief appearance, this film is expected to give him a more substantial character.

The proposed chief minister role also creates an interesting connection with his public career, although the available reports do not establish that the character is a direct portrayal of Siddaramaiah himself. The film is being presented as a separate cinematic project.

The project comes several years after his appearance in Summer Holidays and also amid separate reports about a biographical film based on his life. That project, reportedly titled Leader Ramaiah, has been linked with Tamil actor Vijay Sethupathi, although details of its production remain separate from Rajesh Gowdas new film.

Siddaramaiahs move into a full length film also follows earlier instances of Karnataka political leaders appearing on screen. Former chief minister B S Yediyurappa had appeared as a chief minister in the Kannada film Tanuja, based on a real incident.

For the new project, however, the biggest challenge may be the 48 hour deadline rather than the political names involved. The team is attempting to turn the entire filmmaking process into a tightly timed production exercise.

The official launch is scheduled for September 2026, while the 48 hour production and shooting challenge is expected to take place in November, according to The New Indian Express.

Whether the ambitious schedule can be completed within the planned time will become clear only when the production begins. For now, Siddaramaiahs decision to appear as a chief minister on screen has already given the Kannada film project considerable attention.

The combination of a former chief minister taking up a major acting role and a filmmaking team attempting a rapid Script to Screen production makes the project an unusual development in both Karnataka politics and Kannada cinema.