Biggest Risk: The Cost of Directing Pawan Kalyan

Pawan Kalyan is no longer just a movie star—he is now a full-time politician, serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. While his fans still hope for big-screen blockbusters, the reality is that his priorities have shifted.

This transition has also impacted directors who collaborate with him, as many find themselves facing setbacks rather than career-defining breakthroughs.

Take Sagar Chandra, for example. He directed Bheemla Nayak, which was a success, but hasn’t landed another major project since. Similarly, Samuthirakani, who helmed Bro, hasn’t taken up another Telugu film.

Their careers have been stuck in limbo, raising concerns about whether directing Pawan Kalyan is truly an opportunity or a risky gamble.

Ongoing projects haven’t had it easy either. Krish began work on Hari Hara Veera Mallu as a grand period drama, but reports suggest Pawan wasn’t entirely satisfied, leading to script changes and cuts. The film has remained in an uncertain state, with Krish eventually stepping away.

Sujeeth, who was expected to deliver a solid entertainer with OG, seemed on track, but the film’s progress has been slow. Creative freedom appears to have taken a backseat, and multiple delays have affected Sujeeth’s career. He even lost out on a project with Nani due to these setbacks.

Among these filmmakers, Harish Shankar handled things differently. Instead of waiting indefinitely for Pawan to complete Ustaad Bhagat Singh, he took up another project, Mr. Bachchan, though it turned out to be a disaster. While he remained active, the end result wasn’t great.

With all these struggles, one has to wonder—will directors still be eager to work with Pawan Kalyan in the future? Given his political commitments, even fans might have to accept that his focus is no longer on cinema.