Pawan Kalyan: Bollywood’s Commercial Turn and South Indian Cinema’s Cultural Relevance

Pawan Kalyan, a Telugu film star and Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy CM, has shared his views on the direction of Indian cinema. He expressed concerns about Bollywood’s shift away from its cultural roots, attributing this change to globalization and the pursuit of commercial success. He believes that South Indian films are now better at representing Indian culture and values. He used ‘Dangal’ as a positive example of a Bollywood film that maintained a strong cultural connection. On the professional front, Pawan Kalyan has several projects in the pipeline, including ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’, set for a 2025 release, ‘They Call Him OG’ and ‘Ustaad Bhagat Singh’.