Mahesh Babu, one of the biggest stars in Telugu cinema, is known for his charm on-screen. Throwback to the time in 2022, the ‘SSMB29’ actor made a bold statement when, during the promotions of his film ‘Sarkaru Vaari Paata’, Mahesh was asked about his Bollywood debut.During the event, the ‘Guntur Kaaram’ actor was asked about when he would be stepping into Bollywood. The actor simply said, “Bollywood can’t afford me.”The 50-year-old actor enjoys massive stardom across Telugu states and among Telugu-speaking audiences worldwide and was clear about his stance. “I may sound arrogant. I did get a lot of offers in Hindi. But I think they can’t afford me. I don’t want to waste my time,” Mahesh said while interacting with the press. The statement instantly set social media on fire, sparking debates between fans of South and Hindi cinema.Several of his supporters commended him for remaining true to his origin as a Telugu star, while some Bollywood fans were infuriated by what they believed were degrading remarks about Hindi films on social media. Mahesh Babu had to issue a statement clarifying his remarks.
Mahesh Babu’s clarification
His representatives issued a press statement asserting that his comments had been “blown out of proportion.” Mahesh- who also affirmed that he respected all film industries- reiterated that his passion and loyalty still resided with Telugu cinema. “I have always wanted to do Telugu films. And I have always wished for Telugu movies to do well across the country. I strongly feel, why should we go to another industry by leaving ours behind?” he explained in a follow-up media interaction.He stated that the rise of Telugu cinema at the pan-India level was a dream come true for him. The South films have finally broken language barriers and are winning audiences everywhere, so the actor feels there’s no longer any point in chasing offers in Bollywood.
Current work front
On the work front, Mahesh Babu is currently busy working with the ace filmmaker SS Rajamouli on the upcoming adventure thriller, tentatively named ‘SSMB29’. The movie also stars Priyanka Chopra and Prithiviraj Sukumaran in lead roles.