A political hero… if he returns to acting as a film hero… ?
Will the majority of people accept him again as a movie star after recognizing him as a political leader? This is a lesson that even the late Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) did not fully realize until experience taught him. Despite coming to power in the 1983 and 1985 elections, NTR was defeated by the majority in the 1989 elections, for various reasons. After losing power, and no longer being as busy as he was as Chief Minister, he found himself with more free time. Wondering how to use it, he produced and acted in three films on his own. All three turned out to be utter flops. At the time, NTR reportedly remarked that people had accepted him as a political hero, but not again as a film hero.
This made it clear that once the public elevates a cinema star into a political leader and entrusts him with power, they may not readily accept him again as a film hero. Despite this lesson, there is growing talk in film circles that the current Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan is making a similar misstep. If he recognizes why his films are not performing well and chooses to stay away from acting, focusing entirely on politics, he could face no political opposition. The majority of people already identify him more as a political leader than as a film star.
Even leaders of Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s party acknowledge that Pawan Kalyan played a key role in their electoral defeat—perhaps even more than N. Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh. It is widely believed that those strongly opposed to Jagan rallied behind Pawan Kalyan.
Notably, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) cadres and supporters are among those praising him highly. He has earned recognition as a leader capable of politically challenging Jagan. Given this stature, it may be better for Pawan Kalyan to bid farewell to films. If he keeps in mind the bitter experiences faced by NTR, the same majority that has already accepted him as a political hero could offer even stronger support, potentially elevating him to NTR’s level.
The takeaway is clear: once a film hero is embraced as a political leader, returning to cinema may not win back the same public support. To avoid repeating NTR’s experience, Pawan Kalyan should refrain from going back to films.
Interestingly, NTR continues to be remembered as an honest political leader. Similarly, after becoming Deputy Chief Minister, Pawan Kalyan is also being widely regarded as a man of integrity—even, off the record, by some supporters of Jagan. He has repeatedly emphasized that they will remain in power for 15 years under Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership and prevent Jagan from returning. In this context, TDP workers and sympathizers are increasingly becoming his admirers.
Many officials and employees working in the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development departments under him are said to hold him in high regard, praising his integrity and governance style.
