Kannada Malayalam Tamil Heroes Take Over, Telugu Stars Concerned

With Tollywood growing into a pan‑India force, actors from other southern industries are entering the Telugu market in bigger numbers. Earlier, Bollywood heroines and villains were common in Telugu films. Now, Kannada, Malayalam, and Tamil heroes are stepping in. Some have found success, others less so, but their presence keeps increasing.

Karthi was one of the first Tamil stars to win over the Telugu audience, earning a loyal following. His dubbed films kept him visible, and he recently returned with Hit 4. Dulquer Salmaan has also built a strong fan base here with films like Mahanati, Seetharam, and Lucky Bhaskar. He is now working on straight Telugu projects like Kantha and Aakasamlo O Tara.

Suriya and Dhanush are also making moves, focusing on bilingual or direct Telugu films. Kannada star Rishab Shetty, after Kantara, is balancing both Bollywood and Tollywood. Along with a Hindi film based on Chhatrapati Shivaji, he is set to act in Jai Hanuman, produced by Naga Vamsi.

Trade circles believe this trend could challenge mid‑range Telugu heroes. With big names from other states targeting Tollywood, competition is about to get even tougher.