Used for Film Promotions, Short-Changed on Screen
B’wood actors are becoming part of Telugu cinema, with their casting often accompanied by hype, extensive promotions and the promise of substantial roles. But the screen reality is very different — they are reduced to cameos!
Raghav Juyal in The Paradise is the latest example being discussed in industry circles. The actor, who gained wider recognition after Kill, was presented as an important part of the film. He travelled from Mumbai to Hyderabad for promotional events and interviews, while his energetic dance performance at the pre-release event was widely circulated on social media. The campaign appeared to position him as one of the film’s major attractions.
Raghav has limited screen time in the three-hour-plus film and is killed around the interval, never emerging as a major antagonist. His axe attack on a subordinate during a bathing scene also sparked online memes and trolling.
An industry producer says such a disconnect can affect how Bollywood actors are perceived. “Sometimes, actors are narrated a character and an arc that sounds substantial, but the final cut may not reflect what was initially discussed. When that happens, the actor’s performance can appear underutilised, and it can affect the way audiences perceive them,” he says.
Divyenndu Sharma, best known for Mirzapur, faced a similar situation with Peddi. His association with the project generated considerable curiosity, while his participation in promotions further raised expectations about his character. However, audiences felt that the role did not make the impact they had anticipated, with the character’s arc becoming increasingly unpredictable in the second half.
Other Bollywood actors have also faced criticism over roles that audiences felt were poorly defined or underwritten. Bobby Deol in Hari Hara Veera Mallu, Sanjay Dutt in Double iSmart and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Saindhav are among those whose characters attracted criticism over their screen presence and impact.
It’s no different with the heroines too. Alia Bhatt in RRR, Jahnvi in Devara and Peddi, had no substantial roles at all. But they were with the team promoting the film all over India.
Language gap
There is another challenge for Hindi actors making the transition to Telugu cinema: the language. “For some actors, the first few days can be difficult because they are unfamiliar with the language and dialogue delivery. There have been instances where actors struggle to understand scenes or deliver Telugu dialogues. During dubbing, their lines may have to be replaced or managed separately,” says another producer.
Director Ashok Teja, however, believes the growing presence of Bollywood actors is ultimately beneficial for Telugu cinema. “It is all about learning a new language, and some actors pick it up faster than others. Bollywood actors are raising the bar for Telugu cinema and getting wider mileage. We should welcome more actors from Hindi cinema,” he says.
Sometimes, actors are narrated a character and an arc that sounds substantial, but the final cut may not reflect what was initially discussed. When that happens, the actor’s performance can appear underutilised, and it can affect the way audiences perceive them”
— A producer