Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga kicked off the New Year 2026 with a bang for his fans, unveiling the highly anticipated first look poster of his upcoming film, Spirit, starring Telugu superstar Prabhas. The poster, released at midnight as Vanga's New Year's wish, immediately set social media ablaze with intrigue and debate.
The Poster That Started the Conversation
The visually striking poster features Bollywood actress Triptii Dimri lighting a cigarette for Prabhas' character, who appears wounded. Sharing the poster on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Vanga wrote a message that has become his signature call: "INDIAN CINEMA.... witness your AJANUBAHUDU / AJANUBAHU Happy New Year 2026 #SpiritFirstLook #spirit @InSpiritMode." The film's official handle added to the mystery with the caption: "You loved what existed before. Now fall in love with what you never knew existed…. #SPIRIT FIRST POSTER ?"
Netizens Spot Glaring Similarities to Animal
While the poster left movie buffs curious about the plot, its stylistic resemblance to Vanga's 2023 blockbuster Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, became the dominant talking point online. Many users expressed a sense of deja vu, with comments flooding social media platforms.
Key reactions from netizens included:
- "I thought it was Ranbir Kapoor from Animal ??, expected better from you Vanga."
- "Another animal ??"
- "The first look of Prabhas from Spirit looks like Ranbir Kapoor's look from Animal."
- "This looks exactly like Ranbir from Animal...wth a different hairstyle."
One user even humorously pointed out the two stars used to dot the 'i's in 'Spirit', suggesting it was a "2 star rating even before release by the director himself."
Excitement and Anticipation Among Fans
Despite the comparisons, a large section of Vanga and Prabhas' fanbase was electrified. Supporters hailed the poster as a sign of things to come, with comments like:
- "You've taken it to the next level from Animal."
- "I can't wait for a tease soon."
- "Bad bad guy ?? Waiting for Prabhas in this version."
One fan dramatically stated, "2026 doesn’t start with wishes, it starts with a warning. If this is just a poster, imagine the damage Spirit will do," while another noted, "Indian cinema loves to shout ‘witness it’ and honestly this looks less like a film and more like a warning label for 2026 already."
What We Know About Spirit So Far
Spirit is a major collaboration between Bhushan Kumar's T-Series and Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Bhadrakali Pictures, slated for a 2026 release. The cast includes Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi and veteran star Prakash Raj in key roles, as revealed in a multi-language audio teaser released in October last year.
That teaser, available in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, hinted that Prabhas plays an IPS officer who is currently imprisoned. It ended with Prabhas' voiceover stating, "Right from childhood, I have one bad habit," leaving audiences guessing about the character's nature.
Initially, Deepika Padukone was set to play the female lead, but she exited the project due to scheduling conflicts. The role eventually went to Triptii Dimri, who appears in the newly released first look.
