Mohan Bhagwat Meets Telugu Film Fraternity as They Make ‘Religious Stories’?

An unusual meeting between RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and leading Telugu film actors, directors and producers has once again reportedly brought into focus his belief that Tollywood produces a higher number of god-centric films and actively promotes Sanatana Dharma, in line with the ideology of the Sangh Parivar.

“RSS office-bearers personally contacted Telugu actors, producers and directors and ensured their participation in the meeting on Sunday” said a producer. “Probably, Telugu cinema has been making more films based on Lord Krishna, Hanuman and Lord Ram, along with other Hindu deities, the Sangh Parivar chief spent four to five hours interacting with Tollywood representatives, although the agenda was under wraps,” he added.

At a time when Bollywood stars appear hesitant to associate themselves openly with religious narratives, Telugu film stars seem to have emerged as torchbearers of Sanatana Dharma, increasingly foregrounding Hindu philosophy and deities in mainstream cinema. From spiritual symbolism to projecting themselves as protectors of dharma, Tollywood actors are embracing faith-driven narratives more assertively.

While Pawan Kalyan highlighted the relevance and sanctity of Sanatana Dharma in Hari Hara Veera Mallu, Nandamuri Balakrishna urged audiences to strictly follow Hindu dharma to ward off evil forces in his recent release Akhanda 2. “It is a positive development,” says director Dolly. “Telugu stars are doing commendable work. They have realised the importance of age-old Hindu values and are attempting to propagate them through cinema. Their pro-Hindu avatars have raised the bar.”

Are stars like Pawan Kalyan and Balakrishna consciously trying to connect with pan-India audiences, particularly in the Hindi heartland, by portraying Hindu saviour roles? Dolly disagrees. “They don’t deliberately hunt for such roles. When directors come up with spiritually centred stories, actors are open to exploring them alongside regular commercial films,” he explains.

Is the infusion of personal belief systems into film roles unhealthy? “I don’t think so,” says Dolly. “Every actor is entitled to personal beliefs. Through select roles, they are reinforcing faith in society. Hinduism has a vast reach and acceptance, and that naturally reflects on screen.”

Several recent Telugu films such as Karthikeya 2, HanuMan, Kannappa, Mirai and Akhanda 2 have extensively used Hindu deities like Lord Shiva, Hanuman, Lord Narasimha and Lord Krishna. While critics argue this borders on overuse, Dolly defends the trend. “Hindu gods symbolise valour, righteousness and clarity. Their depiction draws whistles, chants and even offerings like coconuts in theatres. Audiences relate strongly to god-backed heroes. Unlike Hollywood superheroes such as Spider-Man or the Avengers, these characters carry a divine connection.”

However, not everyone is convinced. A senior producer, speaking on condition of anonymity, feels Tollywood is diluting the genre. “Only a few films like Karthikeya 2 and HanuMan made a significant impact among Hindi-speaking audiences. Many others, including Hari Hara Veera Mallu and Akhanda 2, failed to register at the Hindi box office. We are clearly going overboard and need to pause,” he admits.

“The temptation is understandable,” he adds. “Depicting Hindu gods during fight sequences guarantees instant applause, but that very temptation is pushing filmmakers to overstep. This trend needs to be reined in before it loses its novelty.”