Spirit: Ma Dong-Seok, Korean action star set to play antagonist in Prabhas' film

Spirit: Ma Dong-Seok, Korean action star set to play antagonist in Prabhas' film

Korean action superstar Ma Dong-Seok, popularly known as Don Lee, is reportedly set to make his Indian cinema debut alongside Prabhas in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s much-awaited film Spirit. The development, first reported by Korean entertainment outlets and later picked up by Indian media, has set social media buzzing with excitement over this potential India–Korea crossover.

According to a report by The Times of India, Ma Dong-Seok has been roped in to play the main antagonist in Spirit, opposite Prabhas.

The Korean actor, globally recognised for his powerhouse performances in Train to Busan, The Outlaws, and Eternals, is expected to bring his signature screen presence to the high-voltage action drama.

Korean media outlet Muko shared on X (formerly Twitter), “This film, titled Spirit, is directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and stars Prabhas, famous for Baahubali, in a dark-toned detective crime drama. Ma Dong-Seok’s role will stand in opposition to Prabhas’ character.”

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Adding to the speculation, Don Lee’s recent social media activity fueled the rumors further. The actor was reportedly spotted flying to India, with several fans noticing his travel posts around the same period the Spirit team was said to be conducting key production work. Neither Vanga nor the production houses—Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and Bhadrakali Pictures—have confirmed the news yet, but the buzz has been enough to stir global curiosity.

If finalized, this will mark one of the most significant collaborations between the Indian and Korean film industries. Don Lee’s popularity in Korea and Hollywood, combined with Prabhas’ pan-India stardom, could position Spirit as a truly global cinematic event. The film already aims to release in multiple languages, including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Japanese, Mandarin, and Korean.

Spirit marks Prabhas’ first collaboration with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, known for his emotionally intense blockbusters like Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh, and Animal. Described as a high-octane cop action drama, Spirit also features Triptii Dimri, Prakash Raj, Kanchana, and Vivek Oberoi in pivotal roles. On Prabhas’s birthday earlier this month, the makers unveiled a special “sound story” audio teaser that gave fans a glimpse into the film’s gritty and immersive tone.

Expected to hit screens in 2026, Spirit is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious and globally expansive Indian projects ever made—one that could redefine cross-cultural storytelling between Asia’s two biggest entertainment industries.