New Delhi, Jan 1: Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga rang in the New Year with a surprise reveal for fans — the much-anticipated first-look poster of his upcoming film Spirit, starring Prabhas and Triptii Dimri.

The poster was unveiled at midnight, continuing Vanga’s tradition of dropping major announcements on New Year’s Eve, a ritual he previously followed with his blockbuster Animal.

The poster immediately drew comparisons to Animal, with fans noting the same raw, unfiltered energy.

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In the striking visual, Prabhas appears shirtless with his back to the camera, his body marked by bruises and bandages across his shoulders, back, and hands. Sporting long hair, a thick beard, and a moustache, his look reminded many of Ranbir Kapoor’s rugged appearance in Animal. Triptii Dimri is seen lighting a cigarette for Prabhas, while he holds a glass of alcohol in one hand — a detail that further amplified the edgy tone of the film.

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A post shared by Prabhas (@actorprabhas)

Sharing the poster on social media, Prabhas wrote, “Here’s the first poster of #Spirit.” Fans quickly flooded the comments section with excitement.

Observations ranged from “It’s the return of the long hair!” to “2026 began with Rebel roar.” Others praised Vanga’s signature style, calling the film “Sandeep Reddy’s cinema at its finest.”

Spirit is written, edited, and directed by Vanga, and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Pranay Reddy Vanga, Krishan Kumar, and Prabhakar Reddy Vanga.

The film is slated for a 2026 release and will be available in multiple languages, including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean — signalling its global ambitions.

The project has already made headlines, particularly after Deepika Padukone exited the film last year over reported work-hour demands. Vanga later addressed the issue indirectly on social media, criticizing what he described as PR-driven narratives. Triptii Dimri, who previously collaborated with Vanga in Animal (2023), was brought on board to replace Deepika.

With the first-look poster now out, anticipation for Spirit has reached new heights. Fans and industry watchers alike are eager to see how Vanga’s vision unfolds, especially after the massive success of Animal.