Sizzling Starlets failing to set screens on fire

Recent box office disappointments for films featuring popular actresses like Kajal Aggarwal (“Satyabhama”) and Payal Rajput (“Rakshana”), along with Anjali’s latest release “Geetanjali Malli Vachindii,” have raised questions about the waning crowd-pulling power of leading actresses in Tollywood.

Producer-distributor Sunil Narang, acknowledging the trend, expresses concerns about the lack of novelty in investigative cop stories, particularly compared to the gripping and innovative content available on OTT platforms. He argues that Telugu cinema needs more compelling narratives to compete with streaming services and urges young filmmakers to emulate the path-breaking storytelling seen in Malayalam and Tamil films.

However, ace producer Vishnu Induri, who produced the female-centric “Thailaivi” with Kangana Ranaut, disagrees with the notion of OTTs as a threat. He views them as an integral part of the filmmaking landscape, providing an additional revenue stream for Telugu films. Induri emphasizes that scripts, not star power, determine a film’s success. He believes that Payal Rajput’s “Rakshana” underperformed due to a weak story, highlighting her previous success with “Mangalavaram.”

Despite recent setbacks, female-centric films continue to attract interest from both established actresses and up-and-coming talent.  Director Hemanth Madhukar, who directed the woman-centric “Nishabdam” with Anushka Shetty, notes that many actresses welcome the opportunity to lead films. He points to the box office successes of Samantha with “Yashoda” and Keerthy Suresh with “Mahanati” as examples of strong female-driven films.

Even established actresses like Tamannaah and Kajal, who have predominantly worked in star-studded films, are gravitating towards female-centric roles. Producer Lagadapati Sridhar suggests this shift is a desire for diverse roles amidst their usual repertoire and that female-centric scripts offer a welcome change of pace. He emphasizes that while glam divas will continue to feature in big-budget productions, they are also seeking opportunities to showcase their range and impact through female-driven stories. Movie lovers are waiting eagerly for the hot beauties to sparkle on the screen showing their female centric power.