Bank of Bhagyalakshmi
Bank Of Bhagyalakshmi is a 2025 Indian Kannada-language crime comedy thriller directed by debutant Abhishek Manjunath. The film stars Dheekshith Shetty and Brinda Acharya in lead roles, supported by Sadhu Kokila, Gopalkrishna Deshpande, Sruthi Hariharan, Viswanath Mandalika and Ashwin Rao Pallakki. Music is composed by Judah Sandhy, with cinematography by Abhishek G. Kasaragod.
The film was initially announced in the year 2022 and took three years for the production to complete. It revolves around a botched bank heist that spirals into chaos and humor.
Plot
The story unfolds in a rural Karnataka town during election season, a time when political parties are busy managing black money and vote-buying strategies. Kanaka, a small-time rowdy with big dreams, leads a gang of five amateur thieves. Tired of petty thefts, they plan a grand heist—to loot the Bhagyalakshmi Cooperative Bank, expecting crores of rupees stashed inside. Before the heist, Inspector Ramakrishna warns Kanaka and his gang to stay out of trouble. Kanaka arrogantly retorts, even threatening to get the inspector transferred. Confident in their plan, the gang breaks into the bank during a lull in election chaos. However, their dream shatters when they discover only ₹67,000 in the safe. This botched robbery sets off a chain of comic mishaps and escalating tension.As they hold the bank staff and customers hostage, Arpita, a bank employee, becomes central to the drama. Kanaka, smitten by her charm, tries to woo her even as the situation worsens. Meanwhile, Inspector Ajith and his team surround the bank, leading to a tense standoff. The gang, desperate to escape, resorts to bizarre tactics—recording videos and posting demands on social media, threatening to kill hostages if their conditions aren’t met. The government, fearing election disruption, reluctantly negotiates.
The twist arrives when Kanaka learns of a hidden stash of black money linked to politicians inside the bank premises. This revelation turns the simple robbery into a high-stakes chase for crores, exposing corruption and greed. Amid frantic attempts to locate the secret cache, the gang faces betrayal, moral dilemmas, and mounting pressure from law enforcement. Kanaka’s romantic subplot with Arpita adds emotional depth to the otherwise chaotic narrative.
The climax ties together themes of greed, survival, and political corruption, as the gang’s fate, the black money mystery, and Kanaka’s love story reach an unpredictable conclusion. While the film maintains a humorous undertone, it also sheds light on the dark realities behind cooperative banks and election-time scams
Cast
- Dheekshith Shetty as Kanaka
- Brinda Acharya as Arpita
- Ashwin Rao Pallaki as Yogananda
- Srivatsa as Anand
- Vinuth as Dhanraj
- Shreyas Sharma as Yuvaraj
- Gopalkrishna Deshpande as Kesavaditya
- Sadhu Kokila as Inspector Ramakrishna
- Sruthi Hariharan as Guest appearance
- Viswanath Mandalika as Inspector Ajith
- Bharath GB as Loki
- Vijay Chendoor
- Usha Bhandary
- Abhishek Shetty as youtuber
Production
Development
Abhishek Manjunath, making his directorial debut, wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogues. The film was conceptualized during the COVID-19 lockdown when director Abhishek M initially planned it as a short film but later expanded it into a full-length feature. Produced by H.K. Prakash, the project aimed to blend humor with a thrilling narrative. Principal photography was completed in mid-2025.Actor Ajay Rao was originally announced as the lead actor when the project was first revealed in late October 2022. The film was introduced as a collaboration between Ajay Rao and debutant director Abhishek M, with producer H.K. Prakash backing the project. Ajay Rao even hinted at unveiling the first look of his 30th film under his own production around that time. However, the casting changed later, and Ajay Rao was replaced by Dheekshith Shetty as the lead actor during production updates in mid-2024.