Sobhita Dhulipala Discusses 'Cheekatilo': A Gripping Telugu Crime Thriller

21 Cheekatilo is a Telugu OTT original made exclusively for Amazon Prime Video, premiering on January 23 in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi. The crime-suspense thriller marks Sobhita Dhulipala’s Telugu OTT debut, and its trailer has already caught attention for its fresh approach to the genre. Ahead of the release, we sat down with Sobhita Dhulipala, Vishwadev Rachakonda, and director Sharan Koppishetty for an exclusive conversation. From the film’s podcast-driven narrative to its characters and storytelling choices, the team shared insights into what makes Cheekatilo stand apart. Read on to know what they revealed. What about Cheekatilo convinced you to come on board? Sobhita Dhulipala: What attracted me immediately was the attitude of the character Sandhya. She is gutsy, has a strong sense of authority, leadership qualities, yet she is also a very normal girl. The podcast angle and the new-age storytelling felt refreshing. All these elements together convinced me to come on board. This is an Amazon Prime Video production, and I had earlier worked with them on Made in Heaven. When this script came to them, they considered me for the role. It has been a long time since I did something in Telugu. I explored Hindi OTT projects, but I also wanted to step into Telugu OTT, and Cheekatilo felt like the right choice. I believe this character will bring me closer to Telugu audiences. Vishwadev Rachakonda: There were multiple factors. When the story was narrated to me, I felt it was a realistic drama entering the space of the crime genre, which itself was new for me. It felt like blending something as emotional as Sakhi with crime, a very interesting combination. Another important reason was the team. Director Sharan and producer Suresh garu made things easy for me, which played a big role in accepting the project. How did you prepare for your character in Cheekatilo? Sobhita Dhulipala: Some films are not complete entertainers or art films but sit beautifully in the middle ground. Cheekatilo is one such film. It gives an engrossing feeling, constantly making you think about what will happen next. Preparing for this role was different because my character is disciplined, carries a sense of authority, and has an attitude. I spent more time thinking about how to present that naturally on screen so audiences understand her instantly. Once that clarity was there, the rest happened in a flow. How has associating with Rana Daggubati influenced your journey as an actor? Vishwadev Rachakonda: Producer Suresh garu’s support has been enormous. Both Suresh garu and Rana garu played a vital role in shaping my journey. Everyone’s path is different, and in my case, they guided me in a unique way. Rana garu has been associated with films like 35: Chinna Katha Kadu, Pareshan, Double Engine, and Dark Chocolate. He stands by my films because he connects with the passion and honesty behind them. That belief and support mean a lot to me. With so many crime thrillers being made today, what sets Cheekatilo apart? Sharan Koppishetty: Cheekatilo has a unique underlying idea that hasn’t been explored much. It is neither a completely gruesome crime story nor a straightforward message-oriented film. We often ignore issues that happen within families, neighbourhoods, or public spaces because we don’t immediately see them as crimes. Those ignored moments later create a deep impact. That is the core of our story. There is one particular sequence that I feel most families will relate to strongly. We fear society more than truth. When a child speaks up about something disturbing, we often ignore it instead of listening. The film explores what happens when a girl overcomes that darkness. Vishwadev Rachakonda: Going deeper, humiliation faced during childhood, especially by someone in a position of power, is often completely ignored. That imbalance gets registered in the subconscious. What we assume is our own fault slowly turns into humiliation and later affects personality and behaviour. This psychological aspect is explored differently in Cheekatilo. Did the script or character dynamics change after Sobhita came on board? Sharan Koppishetty: No. Everything was designed according to the story. I am not a director who forces actors to deliver lines in a fixed way. I believe in giving actors space to express emotions naturally through their body language and performance. Sobhita Dhulipala: Sharan is very supportive. He is not someone who follows a “my way or the highway” approach. He respects actors and gives them space to perform naturally. Cinema is the director’s medium, and that balance worked very well for this film. After playing a family man in 35, how different was stepping into a crime-driven film like Cheekatilo? Vishwadev Rachakonda: There are subtle similarities between both characters. In 35, my character respects his partner deeply. In Cheekatilo, he longs for her time and emotional space, but she is involved in something far more serious. The emotional dynamics are different, but the sensitivity remains. Sobhita Dhulipala: I really liked the relationship aspect in this film. In real life, partners are not always perfectly in sync. There are differences and conflicts, and some of that reality is reflected through our characters in Cheekatilo. Podcast culture is still relatively new for Telugu audiences. Do you think this backdrop will connect with viewers? Sobhita Dhulipala: Podcast culture has been growing steadily in our country. Just like films have genres, podcasts also have genres, and crime podcasts have a huge following internationally. In India too, this format of expression is on the rise. Sharan Koppishetty: Any new concept can connect with audiences if it is presented in a simple and engaging way. For example, Aditya 369 dealt with time travel, a complex idea, but Singeetam Srinivasa Rao garu explained it so clearly that audiences embraced it completely. That was our approach here as well. Vishwadev Rachakonda: Many people feel short-form content like reels dominates attention today, but long-format podcasts are actually getting strong and meaningful viewership. What’s next for you after Cheekatilo? Sobhita Dhulipala: It has been a long time since I acted in Telugu, and I am returning with Cheekatilo. I hope audiences connect with my character. Apart from this, I am working on Vettuvum with Pa Ranjith garu. It is extremely different, and the visuals, characters, and storytelling genuinely surprised me. Vishwadev Rachakonda: Dark Chocolate is next for me. We recently conducted test screenings for select audiences and are working on the feedback. It is a different subject, and I am very proud of the project. More details will be shared soon. Sharan Koppishetty: My next project is Adhira, starring Dasari Kalyan. It is created by Prasanth Varma, and I am directing it. The shooting will begin on January 27, 2026. More details will be announced at the right time.