Manoj Manchu on playing villain Black Sword in Mirai: “I wanted to approach the character with sincerity”

Manoj Manchu portrays a villain in Mirai

Manoj Manchu's outstanding portrayal of the terrifying antagonist Black Sword in Teja Sajja’s highly anticipated sci-fi action thriller Mirai has emerged as the film's most talked-about feature. Critics and viewers alike have suggested that Mirai's outstanding reception is largely due to his commanding on-screen presence.

In a recent interview with Lastly, Manoj has reflected on his role and shared, “Black Sword is not just a villain; he represents the internal conflicts of power, ambition, and destiny.”

He added, “I wanted to approach the character with sincerity, breaking away from traditional hero-villain tropes. Every look, every gesture had to reflect the weight of his dark purpose.”

The director has flawlessly blended innovative visual effects with an engrossing story, daringly pushing the limits of genre storytelling in Telugu cinema. Manoj Manchu's bold transformation into Black Sword, a sinister, menacing character whose strength and complexity keep audiences enthralled from beginning to end, is what elevates the movie above mere technical spectacle.

This praise has been supported by audiences, as evidenced by the outpouring of appreciation on social media for Manoj's audacious decision to play an antagonist.

Produced by TG Vishwa Prasad and Krithi Prasad under People Media Factory, the film also stars Jagapathi Babu, Shriya Saran, Jayaram and others in key roles.

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Mirai follows the journey of Vedha (played by Teja), a young man fated to rise as a powerful Yodha, or warrior, and take on the forces of evil. His adversary, Mahabir Lama — known as the Black Sword (portrayed by Manoj) — is on a quest to find the nine ancient grandhas, sacred texts left behind by Emperor Ashoka, in his pursuit of ultimate power.