Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan recently made headlines after discussing his collaboration with Karnataka’s Forest Minister, Eshwar B. Khandre, and sharing his thoughts on the evolving portrayal of heroes in South Indian cinema. His remarks have led to widespread speculation that he may have taken a subtle jab at the blockbuster film Pushpa and its lead character, played by Allu Arjun.
Speaking to the press, Pawan Kalyan reflected on the cultural shift in the depiction of heroes on screen. He drew a contrast between past and present representations, citing the iconic 1973 Kannada film Gandhada Gudi, starring Dr. Rajkumar. “Around 40 years ago, a hero was someone who safeguards the forest,” Pawan remarked. “And now, the hero is someone who cuts away at the forest and is a smuggler. Current cinema, which I’m also a part of, and I struggle to do such films, because are we sending the right message? A cultural shift happened, which was interesting. What I couldn’t do in reel life, I wish to do in real life through politics.”
These comments led to speculation online that Pawan Kalyan was taking a veiled dig at Allu Arjun’s character in Pushpa: The Rise. In the film, Arjun plays Pushpa Raj, a red sanders smuggler who rises through the criminal ranks. Fans and critics alike took to social media to debate whether Pawan was criticising the glorification of such characters. One user wrote, “Did Deputy CM @PawanKalyan take a subtle dig at @alluarjun starter Pushpa movie?” Another commented, “Mega rift with Allu Arjun seems real. Totally agree with Pawan Kalyan here.”
However, some fans were quick to defend Pawan Kalyan, arguing that his remarks were about the broader trend in cinema rather than a specific critique of Pushpa. One fan wrote, “He mentioned the change in the way people are seeing things—Allu Arjun is part of the mega family—don’t divert on the words spoken by Pawan Kalyan.”
On the professional front, Pawan Kalyan is set to appear in several upcoming films, including Sujeeth’s They Call Him OG and Krish’s Hari Hara Veera Mallu, alongside Harish Shankar’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh. Meanwhile, Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2: The Rule is slated for release in December.
