Balakrishna Breaks the Mold: Plays His Age in Bhagavad Kesari

In recent times, Tamil senior heroes Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan have earned accolades and positive reviews from audiences for their daring choice to play characters that reflect their age in their movies. In Rajinikanth's "Jailer" and Kamal Hassan's "Vikram," both iconic actors step into roles of grandfathers while continuing to enthrall viewers with their captivating performances.

Meanwhile, in the Telugu film industry, senior heroes have largely chosen to conceal their age, often prioritizing glamour and commercial elements over storytelling. Chiranjeevi, in his recent ventures, seemed to focus more on catering to the masses rather than embracing roles that reflect his maturity. Even Nagarjuna hasn't been an exception to this trend.

However, a notable shift occurred when Balakrishna boldly stepped out of the conventional norms with his performance in "Bhagavad Kesari." In this film, he refrained from indulging in over-the-top heroism and steered clear of the typical romantic scenes with the heroine. A refreshing twist is seen in a particular scene where Kajal's character has a crush on Balakrishna, and the actor emphasizes the bond of friendship by wishing to be called "big brother." Notably, the film has no customary romantic duet, item song, unnecessary comedy and even in the climax, Balakrishna's character prioritized Sreeleela's elevation.

The success of "Bhagavad Kesari" has posed a compelling question: will other senior heroes in the Telugu film industry now take inspiration from Balakrishna and consider playing roles that reflect their age? With the film receiving a positive response, it might just be the catalyst for a shift in the narrative, encouraging more senior actors to play roles that resonate with their maturity and connect with audiences on a deeper level. Balakrishna's bold move may well mark the beginning of a new trend in Telugu cinema, where actors are not bound by age but empowered by the stories they tell.

-by Vishnupriya