Dulquer Salmaan’s Rapid Rise in Tollywood: A New Competitor for Tier-2 Heroes

Renowned hero Dulquer Salmaan has carved a unique identity for himself in the South Indian film industry. As the heir of Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty, Dulquer has quickly established his own separate fan base within a short period. Proving himself a worthy son with his remarkable acting skills, he has also made significant inroads into Tollywood, gaining a solid fan following. However, it appears that Dulquer is now shifting his focus entirely towards the Telugu industry. Announcing back-to-back projects in Telugu, he seems ready to give stiff competition to Tier-2 heroes like Ram, Vijay Deverakonda, Naga Chaitanya, and Nithiin.

Dulquer as a Rising Hero in Tollywood!

With just two or three films, young hero Dulquer Salmaan has managed to achieve star hero status in Tollywood. His role as Gemini Ganesan in the Telugu film ‘Mahanati‘, directed by Nag Ashwin, impressed everyone. His exceptional performance mesmerized the Telugu audience. Following this, he captivated viewers as a hero in the film ‘Sita Ramam‘. Playing a soldier, a lover, and a prisoner in an enemy country, his diverse performances have won the hearts of Telugu cinema-goers. Recently, he played a significant role in ‘Kalki 2898 AD‘ starring Prabhas, portrayed as a mentor who plays a critical role in Prabhas’s life, akin to the mythical figure Parashurama. Rumors suggest that Dulquer will continue his role in ‘Kalki 2’.

Recognition through Dubbed Films

In addition to direct Telugu films, several movies in which he acted in Tamil and Malayalam were dubbed into Telugu. Dulquer Salmaan’s films, up to nine in number, have reached Telugu audiences. Movies directed by Mani Ratnam like ‘Ok Bangaram‘, and those he starred in with Sai Pallavi like ‘Hey Pillagada‘, and ‘Andamaina Jeevitham‘ have greatly attracted the Telugu youth, giving them a feeling of kinship with Dulquer. Action films like ‘Kurup’, ‘Salute’, and ‘King of Kotha‘ also gained good will among the mass audience. With this, Dulquer has evolved into a hero who embodies a blend of class and mass appeal in the Telugu film industry.

Aggression with New Projects

With his star hero status in Telugu, directors and producers in Tollywood are keen to work with Dulquer. Consequently, he is actively engaging in Tollywood projects with enthusiasm. He is currently working with director Venky Atluri in the film ‘Lucky Bhaskar’, set to release on October 31. Additionally, he has agreed to a Pan-India project titled ‘Aakashamlo Oka Tara’ under the direction of Pavan Sadineni, which has already generated interest with its first look poster showing Dulquer in a farmer’s role. Meanwhile, he has started a new project under Rana’s production titled ‘Kantha’, where he will be seen alongside Tollywood’s rising beauty Bhagyashree Borase. Set in the 1950s, Rana plays a key role in this film directed by Tamil director Selvamani Selvaraj.

Strong Competition for Tier-2 Heroes!

Given Dulquer Salmaan’s momentum in Tollywood, it seems inevitable that he will pose strong competition to Tier-2 heroes like Ram, Vijay Deverakonda, Naga Chaitanya, and Nithiin. Film analysts believe that if at least two of his current three projects hit, his stature will significantly rise. With his classic looks and the capability to electrify action sequences, Dulquer is fast becoming a preferred choice for Telugu directors. Heroes suffering from a series of flops, like Naga Chaitanya, Ram, and Vijay Deverakonda, need to be cautious about the competition from Dulquer.