'Bollywood stars need to learn from Allu Arjun,' says RGV after Pushpa 2 phenomenon

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma on Monday shared his insights into the staggering success of the latest Telugu blockbuster, Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun. The film has created a seismic impact at the box office, especially in the Hindi heartland, where its record-breaking reception has taken many by surprise.

RGV pointed out that Pushpa 2’s triumph highlights the growing disconnect between Bollywood filmmakers and their audiences. He suggested that the reluctance of major Bollywood stars to experiment with their appearances and performances has severely tarnished the industry's reputation.

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"Unlike the likes of @LeoDeCaprio who is unbelievably versatile ranging from a Titanic to a Revenant to a Wolf of Wall Street , Bollywood stars never believed in playing characters ..Their understanding of characters never goes beyond little alterations in hair style and clothing because they believe stars should look like stars ..Some fake and artificial mannerisms is what they think is character unlike the mannerisms of @alluarjun which seem to come out organically from within the character," said RGV. 

Unlike the likes of @LeoDeCaprio who is unbelievably versatile ranging from a Titanic to a Revenant to a Wolf of Wall Street , Bollywood stars never believed in playing characters ..Their understanding of characters never goes beyond little alterations in hair style and clothing…

— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) December 9, 2024

In the Pushpa franchise, Allu Arjun has embraced a raw and unglamorous persona that breaks conventional expectations of how movie stars should present themselves on screen.

"@alluarjun is the 1st ever STAR in INDIA who became an ACTOR to play a CHARACTER in #Pushpa2 and its DINOSAURIAN MEGA SUCCESS should be a wake up call to all STARS to stop depending upon SLOW MOTION etc and seriously work on characteristics The film industry should owe a lot to @alluarjun for opening its eyes which is bound to RESHAPE the FUTURE in how STARS will look at CHARACTERS in the decades to come," he added. 

Pushpa 2: The Rule opened to a historic Rs 293 crore worldwide on its first day, eventually grossing over Rs 600 crore within four days of release. Of this, approximately Rs 300 crore came from the Hindi-speaking regions, underscoring its pan-Indian appeal. The film has not only passed the crucial Monday test with flying colours but is also on course to set new benchmarks for future blockbusters.