Alia Bhatt could be quietly building a career in Telugu cinema. After debacles like Alpha and Jigra, she is reportedly lining up multiple Telugu projects.
The biggest among them is Dragon with Jr. NTR and Prashanth Neel. Alia is reportedly not playing a regular commercial heroine. Instead, she is said to have an important character with a strong role in the story. Working with NTR and Neel in a major pan-India film could further strengthen her presence in the South. Shahid Kapoor is also in talks for the film.
Alia Bhatt is also reportedly part of Kalki 2898 AD 2. The film is expanding the Kalki cinematic universe, and a substantial role could give Alia visibility across multiple industries. After Deepika’s exit, the makers reportedly felt that the film needed another big heroine who could attract Bollywood audiences. Prabhas’ limited stardom in the Hindi market, especially after disasters like The Raja Saab, may have made producers look for a popular pan-India face. And who better than Alia? Sai Pallavi is also reportedly in talks for another role, but official confirmation is awaited.
The third project could be the biggest change in her approach. According to Tollywood buzz, Alia is in advanced talks to play the lead opposite a prominent Telugu hero in a straight Telugu film. Details are being kept under wraps, and the project is not officially confirmed yet. If it happens, it would be different from her earlier South ventures. Alia would not just be entering Telugu cinema through pan-India films. She would also be taking up the female lead in a Telugu production.
There could be a clear career strategy behind these choices. Alia has already established herself in Bollywood, but her recent theatrical results have not been very encouraging. Telugu cinema, meanwhile, continues to produce some of India’s biggest pan-India films.
Dragon and Kalki 2 are exactly the kind of projects that can keep her visible across markets. A straight Telugu film could take that connection even further.
Whether all three projects actually materialize remains to be seen. For now, official announcements are awaited.
