Opinion: Senior Star Heroines At A Crossroads

This is not the era where stardom alone works. Whether it is Chiranjeevi or Shah Rukh Khan, Mahesh Babu or Vijay Devarakonda, the mad craze in fans is limited to YouTube views, but not in terms of theatrical collections. Content is clearly leading the game now. Audience mindset has changed. They are not running to theatres just because a star is in the film. If they like it, they support; else, they move on. The same applies to these senior star heroines, too.

Once upon a time, names like Anushka and Tamannaah were automatic choices next to top heroes. That phase is gone. Even the next lot, Samantha, Keerthy Suresh, and Pooja Hegde, are now facing a real test in the Telugu market. With the arrival of Sreeleela, Bhagyasree Bhorse, Rukmini Vasanth, and other youngsters, the 35+ brigade, like Sam, Keerthy, Pooja, and even Mrunal, will be finding it tough. Only if they deliver continuous hits, they will be in demand.

If we look more deeply into these seniors, Samantha’s career has moved in two phases. First, as a commercial heroine doing big films with star heroes. Then, she shifted towards female-led stories, which didn’t help her much. Films like Shaakuntalam and Yashoda didn’t work as expected, while her divorce became a bigger topic later. Now, the success of Maa Inti Bangaram becomes crucial for her. Not just as an actress, she is also producing it.

Similarly, Keerthy Suresh’s slowdown has been quite visible. From a National Award-winning actress to struggling for Telugu offers, the shift is striking and she needs a lifeline now. She almost locked Venu Yeldandi’s Yellamma, but that didn’t happen. Luckily, she got Venkatesh–Anil Ravipudi film and Vijay Deverakonda’s Rowdy Janardhana. These two films are critical for the married siren’s Telugu career.

Similarly, we have Pooja Hegde who was quickly shut out of Tollywood after getting sacked from Guntur Kaaram first and Ustaad Bhagat Singh later. She was once the top choice across Telugu and Tamil films, but now, they are asking her for special songs. Currently, she is doing a film with Dulquer Salmaan. There is also strong talk about her being part of Nani–Sujeeth’s Bloody Romeo. If not these two, she needs a strong comeback.

Audience is open to new faces these days due to OTT platforms, where they see a new actress each day in some intriguing and interesting web series.. They are not loyal to a few starlets anymore. Which means these stars have to prove themselves again with the right films.