The Telugu film industry follows a pattern. If one film succeeds in one particular setting or backdrop, many more will follow in the same fashion or genre. When one heroine becomes popular, every filmmaker wants to cast her. Similarly, casting famous Bollywood actors as villains is an emerging trend in the Telugu film industry.
Sanjay Dutt and Saif Ali Khan, who dominated the Bollywood film industry as lead heroes for many years, are now playing villains in Telugu films. On the one hand, casting Bollywood actresses such as Janhvi Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, and Ananya Panday as order of the day. Now, Bollywood actors grabbing villain roles as well.
Telugu producers are not hesitating to offer the hefty remuneration to these actors. The paycheck is tempting for them. Plus, Telugu films have global reach now.
Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan, the handsome hero of films like “Hum Tum,” played Lankesh, the Ravana, in Prabhas’ mythological film “Adipurush.” He will also make his Telugu debut in ‘Devara’. He plays the film’s main antagonist.
Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt was once Bollywood’s number one hero. With films like ‘Khal Nayak,’ he reached number one in the 1990s. The ‘Munnabhai’ actor made his South Indian film debut with Kannada mega blockbuster ‘KGF’ and has since been very busy. He is making his Telugu debut in a Prabhas film. He plays the antagonist in Prabhas’ supernatural thriller directed by Maruthi.
Bobby Deol
Bobby Deol, like Sanjay Dutt and Saif Ali Khan, was a popular Bollywood hero. He is now focusing on negative and character roles. Bobby Deol plays Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor, in Pawan Kalyan starrer period drama “Hari Hara Veera Mallu”.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Nawazuddin Siddiqui has previously played negative roles in Bollywood blockbusters. This multi-talented actor is now making his Telugu debut. He plays a key role in Sailesh Kolanu’s action thriller ‘Saindhav,’ starring Venkatesh.
Arjun Rampal
Arjun Rampal, the handsome Bollywood actor, was supposed to make his debut in “Hari Hara Veera Mallu,” but he was unable to do so due to scheduling conflicts. Though he did not appear in Pawan Kalyan’s film, he did not pass up the opportunity to appear in a Telugu film. He is currently playing the antagonist in Nandamuri Balakrishna’s film, which is being directed by Anil Ravipudi.
Dino Mario
Dino Mario, another Bollywood actor, made unsuccessful debut in Telugu in recent ‘Agent’.
