Actor Rana Daggubati Recounts Terrifying Encounter with Elephants

Actor Rana Daggubati recently shared a harrowing experience he had while filming in the jungles of India. During a pre-release event for his upcoming film Mowgli, Daggubati recounted how he was forced to hide for three hours after encountering a herd of wild elephants while shooting for the film Aranya in 2021.

The filming took place in an area known as an elephant corridor, which is critical for the migration of these majestic animals. Daggubati explained that his crew had unintentionally exceeded their scheduled shooting time. “We were told we needed to leave by a certain time,” he said, “but you know how films work, and we overshot.”

As the crew was filming, chaos ensued when members of the unit noticed the approaching elephants. Daggubati stated, “Suddenly, many people in the unit started running. What happened was that wild elephants were crossing, and we all had to hide for some time without making any noise.” He described the experience as surreal, recalling that they remained concealed in complete darkness for three hours. “That was the first time I experienced how terrifying the jungle can be,” he added.

The film Aranya, which features Daggubati, was produced in multiple languages, including Tamil as Kaadan and Hindi as Haathi Mere Saathi. The project also starred actors Vishnu Vishal and Pulkit Samrat. Due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was released directly on OTT platforms, circumventing traditional cinema screenings.

In addition to his work in Aranya, Daggubati made a cameo appearance in 2025 in the post-credits scene of Teja Sajja-starrer Mirai. He also reprised his iconic role as Bhallaladeva in the re-release of Baahubali: The Epic by acclaimed director SS Rajamouli. Recently, he appeared as Inspector Devara, also known as Phoenix, in the film Kaantha, alongside Dulquer Salmaan and Bhagyashree Borse.

Looking ahead, Daggubati is set to appear in the Tamil film Parasakthi, further expanding his repertoire. This year, he also took on the role of producer for Kothapallilo Okappudu and Kaantha, and presented Premante, demonstrating his versatility in the film industry.

Daggubati’s thrilling encounter with elephants serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of filming in wildlife-rich locations, highlighting both the beauty and dangers that come with such experiences.