“COMMITTEE KURROLLU WAS THE BIGGEST GAMBLE OF MY CAREER, BUT I WON’T STOP TAKING RISKS” – NIHARIKA KONIDELA AT ‘POCKET ROCKKETS’ TEASER LAUNCH

“No matter how much glamour and masti you see in the film, there is a strong emotional line. Even if you don’t understand the game, you will understand the movie,” says Niharika Konidela.

What begins as a pursuit of easy money soon draws two friends into a gamble where the stakes extend far beyond the casino table. Pocket Rockkets, presented by Niharika Konidela’s Pink Elephant Pictures and Maximum City Studios, has unveiled its intriguing teaser, offering a glimpse into a world of ambition, risk, excitement and life-changing opportunities.

Written and directed by Rudra Atri, the film features Trinadh Varma, Nirmal and Shriya Kontham in the lead roles, with JD Chakravarthy playing a pivotal character. The teaser launch event was attended by the film’s cast and crew, who shared their experiences and spoke about the film’s story, making and the journey behind the project.

Speaking at the event, producer Niharika Konidela said, “Committee Kurrollu was the biggest gamble I have ever done, but I won’t stop taking risks. No matter how much glamour and masti you see in Pocket Rockkets, there is a strong emotional line. You don’t need to understand the rules of the game to understand the movie. The film is driven by the emotional journey of its characters, and it is definitely entertaining.”

Explaining the film’s central idea, Niharika added that Pocket Rockkets is metaphorically about life itself, where every day involves taking risks and making bets. She said the characters Anji, Yesu and JD Chakravarthy’s character are constantly betting on life and navigating the consequences of their choices. She also expressed confidence in the film’s emotional core and entertaining narrative.

Niharika further spoke about the film’s quick production journey, revealing that the team began shooting in July and completed the project within a few months. She credited the team’s dedication, planning and commitment for making the schedule possible. She also clarified during the media interaction that the entire film was complete and the team was confident about its announced release date.

Speaking about the film’s backdrop, director Rudra Atri said that the casino setting offers a fresh and distinctive space for Telugu cinema. He thanked Niharika Konidela and the producers for believing in his vision and giving him the opportunity to make his directorial debut. He said that despite the challenges and anxieties involved in completing the film within a short period, the team remained focused on delivering the best possible product.

Producer Rahul Raghavendra spoke about Maximum City Studios’ transition from digital content to feature films. He appreciated the team’s effort and praised Rudra Atri’s vision, execution and commitment. He also acknowledged the support of the cast, crew and production team in bringing the project together.

Shriya Kontham, who plays Harika, said that her character is one audiences will love, hate and empathise with, but cannot ignore. She thanked Niharika Konidela and the producers for the opportunity and expressed happiness about being part of Rudra Atri’s directorial debut. She also promised that the film would offer much more than what audiences have seen in the teaser.

Trinadh Varma, who plays Anji, described Pocket Rockkets as an urban drama about two young men trying to improve their lives. Nirmal, who makes his acting debut with the film as Yesu, expressed gratitude to the production team for giving him the opportunity and said the experience had been an important learning journey.

Veteran actor JD Chakravarthy appreciated the film’s innovative storyline and said he connected with its emotional core. He also praised Niharika Konidela’s dedication as a producer, highlighting her commitment and involvement throughout the shoot.

Music director Gyaani expressed happiness about being associated with the project and said the team had worked hard to bring the film together. He added that several promotional activities and materials would follow the teaser launch. Editor Anwar Ali also appreciated the production house for backing different kinds of stories and described the film as an exciting project with an energetic team.

The film’s technical crew includes cinematographer Edurolu Raju, music director Gyaani and editor Anwar Ali. Produced by Padmaja Konidela, Rahul Raghavendra and Rahul Nimmakuri, Pocket Rockkets is gearing up for a theatrical release on December 11, 2026.

With its unusual casino backdrop, relatable characters and an emotional story built around ambition and risk, Pocket Rockkets promises to bring a fresh and entertaining experience to audiences. The teaser marks the beginning of the film’s promotional journey.

‘POCKET ROCKKETS’ MEDIA Q&A: NIHARIKA KONIDELA SAYS THE FILM’S EMOTIONAL CORE GOES BEYOND ITS CASINO BACKDROP

“You don’t need to understand the game to understand the movie. No matter how much glamour, glow, fun and masti you see, there is a very strong emotional line,” says Niharika Konidela.

Following the teaser launch of Pocket Rockkets, the film’s cast and crew interacted with the media and answered questions about the film’s unique casino backdrop, emotional narrative, production process, performances and upcoming theatrical release.

During the interaction, producer Niharika Konidela spoke about the inspiration behind the film, her production approach and the importance of backing fresh stories. She clarified that audiences do not need any prior knowledge of gambling or casino games to connect with the film.

On the film’s emotional core and casino backdrop:

Niharika Konidela said that despite the glamour, excitement and entertainment associated with the casino setting, Pocket Rockkets has a strong emotional foundation. She explained that the film revolves around the emotional journeys of its characters, particularly JD Chakravarthy’s character, Anji and Yesu. The underlying emotion is relatable to everyone — the hope that one change in life could set everything right.

When asked whether audiences need to understand gambling to enjoy the film, Niharika replied that the game itself is not important. The drama and emotions unfolding behind the table are what drive the story. She added that viewers would understand and enjoy the film even without knowing the rules of the game.

Director Rudra Atri said he chose the casino backdrop because it offers a fresh setting that has rarely been explored in Telugu cinema. JD Chakravarthy also described the film’s storyline as innovative and said its concept was one of the major reasons he connected with the project.

On taking risks as a producer and the success of Pink Elephant Pictures:

When asked about her biggest gamble in life, Niharika revealed that Committee Kurrollu was the biggest risk she had taken as a producer. She said that backing a film with newcomers and investing in a new production venture involved considerable risk, but she believed in the project and went ahead with it.

She firmly stated that she would continue taking risks and supporting different kinds of stories, regardless of how challenging they might be. Speaking about the success of her previous films, she credited her team and said she had been fortunate to come across interesting stories.

Responding to a question about the performance of Telugu cinema compared to other industries, Niharika said every film industry has its own successful phase and expressed confidence that Telugu cinema would continue delivering good films.

On completing the film in a short span:

Niharika explained that extensive pre-production was the key to completing Pocket Rockkets within a short period. She revealed that the team initially planned to make the film after Bari, but when that project was delayed, they decided to bring Pocket Rockkets forward.

She said Pink Elephant Pictures invests significant time in pre-production, with the team often working for 12 to 18 hours on planning and execution. According to her, detailed preparation, teamwork and effective time management helped complete the film efficiently.

JD Chakravarthy praised the producers for their planning and coordination, particularly in arranging the casino shooting schedules. He revealed that the team faced restrictions on shooting hours at the casino but managed the situation without disrupting the director’s creative flow. He also appreciated Niharika’s ability to take quick and practical production decisions.

On Rudra Atri’s directorial debut and filmmaking process:

Rudra Atri spoke about his experience working with director S.S. Rajamouli’s team and said the experience taught him the complete filmmaking process, from pre-production and shooting to editing. He revealed that he worked as an assistant director for nearly 180 days and gained valuable knowledge about the functioning of different departments.

Explaining the film’s post-production process, Rudra said he edited the film schedule-wise rather than waiting until the entire shoot was completed. The director, cinematographer and team also planned camera angles, setups and shots well in advance, helping them complete the project within the planned schedule.

He thanked Niharika Konidela for believing in him and giving him the opportunity to make his directorial debut. He also revealed that the film was originally planned after Bari, but the change in schedule created an opportunity to bring the project to theatres sooner.

On JD Chakravarthy’s association with the film:

JD Chakravarthy revealed that he heard the story from Rudra Atri nearly a year ago and was impressed by its innovative concept. He said the casino setting and the emotional elements made the film different from the usual stories he comes across.

Praising Niharika as a producer, JD said he had rarely seen someone handle production with such dedication and clarity. He particularly appreciated her decision-making during challenging shooting schedules, stating that she ensured the director and actors remained in their creative flow.

He also clarified that his decision to be part of the film was primarily driven by the story and its uniqueness, while Niharika’s backing gave him confidence that the film would reach audiences.

On the characters and performances:

Trinadh Varma, who plays Anji, said the script chose him rather than the other way around. He described Anji as a character with tremendous hunger and determination to change his life. He believes the film’s relatable human emotions and the character’s journey will connect strongly with audiences.

Nirmal revealed that he went through a week-long audition process before being selected to play Yesu. He described the opportunity as a major milestone in his career, as Pocket Rockkets marks his first film.

Shriya Kontham, who plays Harika, said she looks at a character’s journey and transformation rather than merely its screen time. She revealed that Harika undergoes a significant transformation from the beginning to the end of the film, making the role particularly exciting for her.

On the promotional strategy and release plans:

When asked about the film’s promotional strategy, Niharika explained that unlike Committee Kurrollu and Raakaasi, which had longer promotional campaigns, Pocket Rockkets would follow a concentrated promotional plan. Since the film began production only a few months ago, the team decided that a focused 45-day campaign would be more effective.

She also confirmed that the film was completely finished and that the team was confident about its release plans.

On Niharika’s return to acting:

During the interaction, Niharika was asked about her decision to move away from acting and concentrate on production. She surprised everyone by revealing that she had signed a film and would begin shooting during the month.

The media interaction also included lighter moments, with JD Chakravarthy entertaining the gathering with his candid responses. When asked whether filmmakers were not casting him in big-star films or whether he was turning them down, he humorously replied, “Both!”