First-look poster surprises fans expecting Don Lee announcement
February 27, 2026: Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga unveiled a new character poster from his upcoming film Spirit on Friday, introducing Vivek Oberoi as the antagonist. The film stars Prabhas and Triptii Dimri in lead roles. Sharing the poster, Vanga wrote, “Presenting you all, the antagonist of the film SPIRIT. Mr Vivek Anand Oberoi.” Vivek also posted the look, teasing the film’s global release on March 5, 2027. The poster shows him in a rugged avatar, smoking a cigar and dressed in a robe, alongside debutant Aishwarya Desai, who is said to play a significant role in the project.
The announcement came amid widespread speculation that South Korean star Don Lee (also known as Ma Dong-seok) would be confirmed as part of the cast. Fans flooded social media with mixed reactions, with many admitting they had expected an update about the Korean actor. Some joked about being “fooled,” while others praised Vivek’s intense transformation and described the poster as “fire.”
Despite initial surprise, the first look has generated strong buzz online, with several users even comparing it favourably to earlier promotional material from the film. As anticipation builds for Spirit’s 2027 release, the makers appear to have successfully sparked conversation — even if it wasn’t the casting reveal many fans had predicted.