When Heroes Go Dark: Top Tollywood Stars Turning Villains
From veterans to rising stars, these actors are stepping outside their comfort zones and taking risks.;
Tollywood is shifting gears as some of its biggest heroes step into villain roles. What used to be rare is now a bold new trend — top stars are taking on darker characters, challenging the usual hero mold, and surprising fans with something different.
In Coolie, Akkineni Nagarjuna drops his smooth hero image to play Simon, a ruthless villain opposite Legendary Rajinikanth. A leaked action scene from the shoot already stirred excitement. Jr NTR, known for his powerful roles, plays the antagonist Veerendranath in War 2, facing off against Hrithik Roshan in Yash Raj’s action-packed sequel.
Allu Arjun, usually known for charm and flair, is said to play a triple role in Atlee’s next — with one of them as a full-blown villain. Manchu Manoj returns in Mirai as Black Sword, a fierce antagonist, while Suhas, who impressed with his grey role in Hit 2, goes full dark in Mandadi.
From veterans to rising stars, these actors are stepping outside their comfort zones and taking risks. It’s no longer just about playing the hero — it’s about keeping the audience guessing, and Tollywood seems ready for the twist.