Allu Arjun on Pushpa 3: 'I cannot do another film in the franchise anytime soon'

Telugu superstar Allu Arjun spent four years working on just two films—Pushpa: The Rise and Pushpa 2: The Rule. While the success of the Pushpa franchise has been monumental, many fans have expressed disappointment at the actor's limited output. This slowdown in projects is not only a concern for fans but also for the industry's economics, as a star of Allu Arjun's calibre dedicating years to a single franchise can ripple through the business.

Even Allu Arjun acknowledges the pressure. On the fourth episode of Unstoppable with NBK, host Nandamuri Balakrishna quizzed him about a potential Pushpa 3. Arjun’s response was telling: "No. I cannot do another Pushpa film anytime soon," he replied with a laugh, signalling his eagerness to move on to new projects.

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When Balakrishna suggested that Arjun should aim for at least two movies a year, the actor revealed his own strategy: "My wish is to do three movies in two years," he said, indicating his intent to accelerate his output.

Pushpa: The Rise was a surprise blockbuster that not only conquered the Telugu states but also captured audiences across India. Its massive success compelled the filmmakers to scale up Pushpa 2, with heightened expectations and a broader market in mind. Reflecting on the unexpected triumph, Arjun shared, "We made Pushpa 1 for Telugu audiences and decided to release it in other languages. We didn’t think it would open up the pan-India market for me so soon; we thought it might take four or five more movies. But by sheer luck, the market opened up with Pushpa 1."

The film’s impact was seismic, especially in the Hindi heartland, where it dominated single screens and gave Bollywood a run for its money. Beyond its box office success, Pushpa 1 became a cultural phenomenon, earning Allu Arjun the National Award for Best Actor—the first Telugu actor to achieve this feat.

Now, Pushpa 2: The Rule, written and directed by Sukumar, is set to release on December 5. 

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