Nandamuri Balakrishna plays a ‘king who fought without a kingdom’ in the teaser of Bobby Kolli’s Daaku Maharaaj, which also stars Bobby Deol.

Dropped by the makers on Friday, the one-minute-36-second-long teaser begins with scenes of men riding horses in a desert, with Balakrishna’s voiceover pointing out that it is not a story about gods who spread light. In the next couple of scenes, his voiceover states that it is neither a story about demons who rule darkness either.

“It’s not even the story of Raavana who commands those demons. This is the story of…a king who fought without a kingdom,” he says, as scenes of Balakrishna sporting a suit and pants, and wielding a gun, appear on the screen.

Cars explode and men are lined up to be shot, while Balakrishna hacks and chops goons. “This is the story of a battle-axe wielding Yamadharmaraj,” says the voiceover, adding that the story is about the emperor who sent shivers down death itself.

“Witness the 𝑮𝑶𝑫 𝑶𝑭 𝑴𝑨𝑺𝑺𝑬𝑺 like never before!! 🔥🔥🔥Presenting the one and only #NandamuriBalakrishna Garu as #DaakuMaharaaj 🪓💥💥,” Sithara Entertainments wrote alongside the teaser on YouTube.

Daaku Maharaaj is reportedly about a thief who robs the rich to help the poor. Written and directed by Bobby Kolli, the film also stars Shraddha Srinath, Pragya Jaisal and Chandhini Chowdary. The music is composed by Thaman S and Vijay Kartik Kannan has served as the cinematographer.

Produced by Naga Vamsi S and Sai Soujanya under Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, Daaku Maharaaj is presented by Srikara Studios.

Daaku Maharaaj is slated to hit theatres worldwide on January 12.