Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan has shared introspective remarks about his cinematic journey and political evolution. In a recent interview, the Tollywood star stated that none of the roles he has portrayed in films so far have entirely reflected his real self.
“Among all the characters I’ve played, none have fully connected with my inner being. I liked certain traits in some roles, but I’ve always wanted to appear on screen as I am in real life,” he said. “However, that may not work in commercial cinema—audiences might not receive it well.”
Pawan Kalyan also opened up about his transition from films to politics, attributing his political awareness to his father. “I never intended to become an actor. I come from a middle-class family. My father was a government employee who followed communist ideologies. It was from him that our family gained political consciousness,” he noted. “Even after entering cinema, I always remained socially conscious, which eventually led me into politics.”
Speaking about the current state of Indian cinema, Pawan expressed concern over the lack of culturally rooted storytelling in Bollywood. “There was a time when films like Dangal reflected Indian culture and values. That kind of cinema is missing today. Filmmakers seem to be struggling to connect with the evolving tastes of audiences,” he observed.
On the work front, Pawan Kalyan is currently filming Ustaad Bhagat Singh with director Harish Shankar and OG under the direction of Sujeeth. Both films are in production stages. Meanwhile, his long-awaited pan-India film Hari Hara Veera Mallu, directed by Krish and Jyothi Krishna, is set for a grand theatrical release on July 24.
