Akka Director Dharmaraj Shetty: Keerthy Suresh's Signature Hairpin Kills Were Her Own Idea
Every screen gangster needs a signature. In Akka, Bhavani's is a hairpin. And according to the show's director, the idea came from Keerthy Suresh herself.
"Her signature style of killing her enemies with her hairpin was a brilliant idea that all came from her," says Dharmaraj Shetty, who wrote and directed the Netflix series.
Queen and gangster
Akka, produced by YRF Entertainment, premiered on Netflix on 30 October. Set in the 1980s in Pernuru, a fictional kingdom shaped by generations of women, it pits Suresh's Bhavani against Radhika Apte's Rudra in a struggle for power.
Shetty says the casting turned on one thing: duality. "Any actor playing Bhavani's character needed to embody the duality in the character of being a queen and a gangster, a character with a gentle, forgiving side and also a harsher, fierce side. And Keerthy Suresh played this perfectly."
"She is 100 percent believable when she plays the soft side and equally convincing when she is kicking ass."
The action
Suresh is best known for performances built on emotion, including the National Award-winning Mahanati. Akka asks her for something more physical, and Shetty says she owned it.
"There was no doubt about Keerthy's acting skills, but what was exciting to see was her performing all the action. The grace and the fierceness with which she did them was fun to witness. She brought in so much of her personality to the action."
The hairpin is a smart choice for Bhavani. It is an everyday object, part of how a woman of her world dresses, turned into a weapon. It says that her power was always hidden in plain sight.
A Hindi project she chose first
At the trailer launch, Suresh said Akka was the first Hindi project she signed, and that she had wanted it to come out first. She also credited Shetty's script readings and look tests with helping her build the character.
What's next
Suresh's upcoming slate includes Sathyavan Savithri, Rowdy Janardhana, Raftaar and January 12 Vidudala.
Akka is streaming on Netflix. For another big streaming conversation this week, read our verdict on the Koffee With Karan episode with Kareena and Saif.
Frequently asked questions
Who plays Bhavani in Akka?
Keerthy Suresh plays Bhavani. Radhika Apte plays her rival, Rudra.
Where can I watch Akka?
Akka streams on Netflix. It premiered on 30 October 2026 and is produced by YRF Entertainment.
Who directed Akka?
Dharmaraj Shetty wrote and directed the series.
Whose idea was Bhavani's hairpin kill?
According to director Dharmaraj Shetty, the signature hairpin kill was Keerthy Suresh's own idea.
What are Keerthy Suresh's upcoming projects?
She is set to appear in Sathyavan Savithri, Rowdy Janardhana, Raftaar and January 12 Vidudala.
Kenneth Hopkins is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AltBollywood. Indofuturist, posthumanist and unapologetically Indocentric, he describes himself as an epimemeticist, a swaraji, a freakonomist, a lexicographer and a cartochronicler, mapping the ideas, words and quiet shifts that shape Indian entertainment. Follow him on Instagram at @kennethhopkins.
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