Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna and Pawan Kalyan, three top actors in Telugu cinema are also politicians. But what’s also common among them is that they are all in a hurry to do as many films as possible.
Generally, it’s rare for top actors to announce their films in succession, but these actors have already announced three upcoming films each, with sources saying it’s because of the elections that will be held in 2019.
After Khaidi No. 150’s success, Chiranjeevi announced films with director Surender Reddy, Boyapati Srinu and Puri Jagannadh. He will also be anchoring a TV reality show, marking his debut on the small screen. “There is political stagnation in Andhra Pradesh, so I am focussing on films. I am not distancing myself from politics,” Chiranjeevi had claimed in his earlier interviews.
A peek into the list of his films and it’s clear that the actor is set to complete half a dozen films before the next elections. “It also gives a chance to reach people,” said the actor, about the TV show.
Balakrishna, too, announced a few movies. Even as his new film with Puri Jagannadh launched on Thursday, he announced the bio-pic of his father N.T. Rama Rao. He also signed a film with director K.S. Ravi Kumar, which will be launched next month. “They will get busy with the campaign during elections. They won’t get the time for films, so they want to complete them now,” says Thammareddy Bharadwaj.
Pawan Kalyan announced in his recent public meeting that he is going to contest in the upcoming elections. “After the elections, I may quit films and concentrate on politics,” the actor had said in his earlier interview.
The actor’s Katamarayudu is releasing this month and he has announced others — one each with director Trivikram Srinivas and Neeson. He will also be doing a film for Dasari Narayana Rao.
“After the elections, some of the actors may not get the chance to act in films. They are old and can’t play the lead anymore. They want to utilise the opportunities that come to them now, when the craze is still there,” says a source from the industry.
