Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Kumbha in SSMB29: Suriya Did It Better, Declare Fans!

Nov 07, 2025, 13:13 IST
- Sakshi Post

The first look of Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha, the antagonist in SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu’s upcoming mega project, SSMB29 (tentatively titled Globetrotter or Varanasi), has created a storm online — but not quite the way the makers might have expected.

While the poster featuring Prithviraj in a mechanical wheelchair with robotic extensions went viral within minutes of release, fan reactions have been divided. Many were quick to draw comparisons between Prithviraj’s Kumbha and other iconic characters, most notably Suriya’s Athreya from 24 (2016), where the Tamil superstar played a villain confined to a wheelchair.

Social media users pointed out the striking similarity in the aesthetic and posture, with several comments reading, “Suriya did it better,” and “Looks too inspired from Athreya’s design.” Suriya’s portrayal of the cold, calculating Athreya in 24 had earned him immense critical acclaim, setting a high bar for any villain depicted in a wheelchair setup.

Apart from that, netizens have also likened Kumbha’s design to Doctor Octopus from Spider-Man and Professor X from the X-Men franchise, citing the mechanical limbs and futuristic elements in Rajamouli’s poster. While fans of Mahesh Babu are celebrating every new update from the project with trending hashtags like #SSMB29 and #Globetrotter, the general audience seems somewhat unconvinced by Kumbha’s visual style.

However, a section of moviegoers has defended the look, suggesting that Rajamouli’s world-building always carries deeper narrative layers and that judging the character based on a poster might be premature.

With the official glimpse set to release on November 15, all eyes are now on Rajamouli to reveal more context behind Kumbha’s menacing persona, and perhaps, to silence the comparisons once and for all.


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