A new trend in Tollywood, young heroes turning into directors

In the film industry, the ‘Director’ holds a crucial position comparable to that of a team leader, guiding the hero and the rest of the cast. The director typically receives acclaim or criticism for the film’s outcome. Presently, there’s an emerging trend in Tollywood where numerous young actors are venturing into directing and writing. We will explore these actors who have leaped ‘Directorial Role’ in Tollywood.

Adivi Sesh

Leading the pack in this category is the versatile actor and young hero Adivi Sesh. He made a mark as a director with the film ‘Karma,’ captivating everyone’s attention. Not only did Sesh write and direct the film, but he also played the lead role, earning significant acclaim. Though his next directorial, ‘Kiss,’ was not as successful, Adivi Sesh is currently making a name for himself as a writer and hero.

Vishwak Sen

Gaining recognition with ‘Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi,’ Vishwak Sen has shown his multifaceted talent as a screenplay writer, writer, hero, and director. He directed and received praise for ‘Falaknuma Das’ (2019), where he also acted and produced the film. Years later, he directed ‘Das Ka Dhamki‘ (2023), which was a success. The recently released film ‘Gaami’ has also been successful, and ‘Gangs of Godavari’ is awaiting release.

Siddu Jonnalagadda

Currently one of Tollywood’s most sought-after heroes as a director is Siddu Jonnalagadda. Known for his story writing, screenplay, and editing skills, Siddu, who gained fame with the blockbuster ‘DJ Tillu,’ also provided the story for its sequel ‘Tillu Square,’ which became a hit. Before these films, he contributed stories and dialogues to movies like ‘Guntur Talkies,’ ‘Krishna and His Leela,’ and ‘Maa Vintha Gaadha Vinuma.’ A sequel to ‘Tillu Square,’ titled ‘Tillu Cube,’ has been recently announced.

Rahul Ravindran

Rahul Ravindran, who starred as the hero in films like “Andala Rakshasi,” “Tiger,” and “Ala Ela,” took up the megaphone as a director with the film “Chi La Sow.” Following that, he directed King Akkineni Nagarjuna in “Manmadhudu 2.” Venky Atluri, known for his roles in movies like “Sneha Geetham” and “It’s My Love Story,” debuted as a director with “Tholi Prema.” Subsequently, he set aside acting to direct films such as “Mr. Majnu” and “Rang De.”

However, the trend of heroes turning directors in Tollywood is not new. In the past, legendary actors like NTR, Superstar Krishna, and Pawan Kalyan transitioned into directors, creating films that matched their tastes.

Pawan Kalyan

Power Star Pawan Kalyan also took to directing with ‘Johnny‘ under his own banner. Though the film was not successful, he has provided stories and screenplays for ‘Gudumba Shankar’ and ‘Sardaar Gabbar Singh.’

R. Narayana Murthy

Known for revolutionary cinema, People’s Star R. Narayana Murthy has made a name as a director and producer, creating impactful films like ‘Ardharatri Swatantram,’ ‘Dandora,’ and ‘Erra Sainyam.’

NTR & Superstar Krishna

Legendary actor NTR, while being a star hero, directed several mythological and folk films. His directorial debut was with the movie “Seetharama Kalyanam.” Following this, he directed films like “Gulebakavali Katha,” “Daana Veera Soora Karna,” “Chanakya Chandragupta,” and “Talla Pellama.” Successfully balancing his roles as both a star hero and a director, NTR managed to carve a niche for himself in both arenas. Similarly, Superstar Krishna, while continuing his acting career, ventured into directing and produced several successful films. With the movie “Simhasanam,” a high-budget film, Krishna debuted as a director and went on to direct hits like “Shankharavam,” “Kaliyuga Karnudu,” “Mugguru Kodukulu,” “Koduku Diddina Kapuram,” “Rikshawala,” “Anna Thammudu,” “Indra Bhavanam,” “Alludu Diddina Kapuram,” “Raktha Tarpanam,” and “Manavudu Danavudu.”