Who will give Buchi Babu the next chance?

Ram Charan-starrer “Peddi” has almost completed its theatrical run. The actor is currently in the UK to participate in the film’s success celebrations. But was “Peddi” really a blockbuster? The answer is no. Was it a flop? The answer is also no.

The actual verdict on “Peddi” is somewhere in between. The film nearly recovered its investment in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana markets, making it a successful venture in the Telugu states. Karnataka also delivered encouraging numbers. However, the film underperformed in North India and North America, while Tamil Nadu and Kerala contributed only modest collections.

Overall, “Peddi” has ended up as a mixed performer. That said, Ram Charan has enough reasons to celebrate. The film’s worldwide gross is substantial and it now ranks among the highest-grossing Telugu films globally. More importantly, after a string of setbacks, the film has helped restore confidence in his box-office pull and earned him appreciation for his performance.

But what does the result mean for director Buchi Babu?

Buchi Babu made an impressive debut with “Uppena”, starring Vaishnav Tej and Krithi Shetty, which emerged as a sensational blockbuster. Following that success, he reportedly narrated a story to NTR, but the project did not materialize. He later approached Ram Charan and convinced him with the script that eventually became “Peddi”.

While the film has posted respectable numbers, the director himself has not gained significant recognition from it. As things stand, it may not be easy for him to secure dates from top-tier stars such as Prabhas, Allu Arjun, NTR, Pawan Kalyan, Nani, or Vijay Deverakonda, all of whom have packed schedules and multiple options before them.

There is talk that Ram Charan has promised to work with Buchi Babu again. However, even if that project takes shape, it is unlikely to happen for another two or three years. There are also whispers that Mahesh Babu has shown interest in hearing a story from him, though nothing concrete has emerged so far.

For now, Buchi Babu appears to be at a crossroads. He may have to wait patiently for another opportunity with a major star or chart a different path by collaborating with younger heroes before landing his next big project.