Director Rajamouli is planning to make the upcoming film SSMB29 with superstar Mahesh in Hollywood. The adventure movie, set to be made in cowboy style, is said to include Hollywood technicians as well. It will be shot against the backdrop of African forests at a pan-world level. Although Mahesh Babu’s recent film “Guntur Kaaram” received mixed reviews, it landed safely in terms of collections.
Global Level
Pan-Indian blockbusters such as Baahubali and RRR, directed by Rajamouli, have garnered global acclaim, catapulting Jr. NTR and Ram Charan to international fame. Presently, they are engaged in their respective projects. A notable observation is that while films directed by Rajamouli almost always achieve hit status, the actors’ follow-up projects often struggle to replicate that success in the industry
Profit or Loss for Mahesh?
The trend observed after collaborating with Rajamouli has been quite clear: actors find themselves in a slump, with their next three to four films underperforming. This pattern sparks curiosity about Superstar Mahesh Babu’s career choices post-SSMB29, including his selection of director for future projects. These considerations are of significant interest even to the casual fan, as a Rajamouli project promises to elevate Mahesh Babu’s global recognition. The decision-making process for Mahesh Babu’s subsequent project, SSMB30, is seen as a crucial juncture in his career, given the mixed expectations of profits and challenges that accompany the aftermath of SSMB29. Examining the experiences of Telugu actors who soared to great heights with Rajamouli only to face setbacks thereafter sheds light on this phenomenon.
Jr. NTR
Rajamouli’s inaugural venture, ‘Student No.1’ starring Jr. NTR, was a major hit, yet the latter’s follow-up, ‘Subbu,’ did not fare well. Their collaboration on ‘Simhadri’ once again brought significant success, but NTR’s subsequent movie ‘Andhrawala’ was a disappointment at the box office. The pattern continued with ‘Yamadonga,’ directed by Rajamouli, achieving acclaim, while NTR’s next film, ‘Kantri,’ was poorly received. Following his role in RRR, Tarak has ascended to international fame. Currently, Jr. NTR is working on ‘Devara,’ directed by Koratala Siva, and the industry is eager to see if this film will break the cycle.
Prabhas
In 2005, Rajamouli and Prabhas teamed up for “Chatrapathi”, which emerged as a blockbuster, a fact well-known across the industry. Unfortunately, Prabhas’s follow-up, “Pournami”, did not meet expectations and was deemed a failure, much to Prabhas’s dismay. Following their initial success, Rajamouli and Prabhas reunited for the monumental “Baahubali” series, which not only set new standards for Tollywood but also catapulted Prabhas to pan-India fame. Despite this, Prabhas’s later projects, “Saaho” and “Radhe Shyam”, did not live up to the hype and were labeled as disappointments.
Ram Charan
Prior to “RRR,” Rajamouli and Ram Charan collaborated on “Magadheera” in 2009, a movie that shattered numerous box office records. Yet, Ram Charan’s subsequent release, “Orange” in 2010, did not achieve similar success. Presently, Ram Charan is involved in a potentially transformative project under the direction of Shankar, and the industry is keenly awaiting the outcome of this movie.
Sunil, after collaborating with Rajamouli on “Maryada Ramanna”, encountered difficulties in replicating the film’s success in his subsequent projects. Likewise, Nani saw a downturn in his career following the release of Rajamouli’s “Eega”, with his movie “Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu”, co-starring Samantha, not performing well at the box office either.
Is Mahesh Babu in the Same Situation?
This leads to the burning question: Post-SSMB29, will Mahesh Babu follow the same pattern of decline as other prominent Tollywood actors, or will he set a new precedent? The anticipation for SSMB29 is already through the roof. There’s buzz that cinematic icons Kamal Haasan and Chiyaan Vikram might join the cast of the Rajamouli-Mahesh Babu venture. Additionally, Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran is rumored to have a significant role. Talks with these stars are currently in progress, potentially elevating SSMB29’s expectations even higher. Yet, an official confirmation from Rajamouli remains pending.
Worldwide Buzz
Meanwhile, Mahesh Babu appears to have transformed his appearance for the upcoming Rajamouli film. A photo of Mahesh Babu showcasing longer hair and a thick beard went viral on social media following a visit from star producer Dil Raju, who was extending a wedding invitation for his son. In this image, as per fans Mahesh looks are comparable to any Hollywood actor. It has also come to light that Mahesh recently traveled to Germany for stunt training. Furthermore, scriptwriter Vijayendra Prasad is said to have completed the screenplay and submitted it to Rajamouli. Starting in April, the production team plans to finalize the selection of cast and crew. The anticipation for this collaboration between Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu is generating buzz on a global scale.
