Continuing the saga of South Indian stars in Hindi cinema: In the first part, we looked at heroes from the late 1950s to the 1990s. We now look at the “invasion”, so to speak, as multi-lingual films came in vogue from the last decade and more and the term “pan-Indian” was coined or both the movies and some of the stars.
Allu Arjun: This actor struck gold when Pushpa: The Rise became a huge hit even in Hindi in late 2021.One of the highest-paid actors in Indian cinema who has been featured in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list since 2014, he then scored a bigger whammy with Pushpa 2: The Rule (Rs. 800-plus crore in Hindi alone). The National award for the earlier film was an add-on bouquet for him. Quite naturally, Pushpa 3 is on the anvil.
Dhanush: Rajanikanth’s former son-in-law acted in the success, Raanjhanaa, and in Shamitabh and Atrangi Re. He is now set to release Tere Ishk Mein.
Dulquer Salmaan: Mammootty’s son made an impressive Hindi debut in Karwaan (2018), but the feel-good Irrfan Khan starrer went nowhere. The Zoya Factor and Chup: Revenge of the Artist also did not make waves, but the actor scored in the web series, Guns & Gulaabs.
Naag Chaitanya: A small role in the disaster, Laal Singh Chaddha, remains his only fling with Hindi cinema.
NTR Jr.: After he was loved in RRR, the man played a gray role in War 2, and buzz is that the role was ‘suitably’ modified so that his fans would not be antagonized!
Prabhas: He is the only hero who is said to have a pan-Indian following after the Bahubali franchise. While Saaho did well in Bihar and Adipurush, Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD crossed 100 crore in Hindi, making six 100-crore grossers in all, he is the go-to hero from the South now. On the way are Salaar 2 and his next release, The Raja Saab. But he has had only one originally Hindi film—Adipurush.
Pruthviraj Sukumaran: After a disastrous beginning with Aiyyaa (2012), he was first noticed in Yash Raj Films’ Aurangzeb amidst Arjun Kapoor and stalwarts Rishi Kapoor and Jackie Shroff. Naam Shabana, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and this year’s Sarzameen followed.
Ram Charan: After being appreciated in RRR, he did a cameo in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. What emphatically did not work for him was the pre-RRR Zanjeer 2.0, in which he reprised Amitabh Bachchan’s character from the 1973 trendsetting blockbuster in a shoddy remake!
Rana Daggubati: After the Bahubali franchise, Rana became a known name, despite having done Dum Maaro Dum and Baby earlier. The Ghazi Attack and a small cameo in Housefull 4 formed his other successful work despite the calamities Welcome to New York (as himself) and Haathi Mere Saathi, which dared to repeat the title of the elephantine Rajesh Khanna hit and turned ‘turtle’ instead!
Rishab Shetty: After the Kantara franchise, Rishab is poised to play the title- role in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, with Shefali Shah as his mother Jijabai, or Rajmata. This is one film sure to be having a Hindi version, as the music is by Pritam!
Siddharth: Siddharth has had a checkered career so far as Hindi cinema is concerned. He made his impressive debut in Rang De Basanti (2006) but later had the damp squib, Striker. He was one of the suitors in David Dhawan’s romcom remake, Chashme Baddoor (which was a success) and acted in his own production, The House Next Door, which he also wrote. His oeuvre also includes the web series, Leila and Escaype Live.
Vijay Deverakonda: Liger began and ended his Hindi career!
Vijay Sethupati: The man has had a mixed innings. He was the antagonist in 2023’s biggest hit, Jawan, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, and was in the lead with Katrina Kaif in Merry Christmas, besides doing the web series, Farzi, with Shahid Kapoor. His Hindi debut was with the South remake, Mumbaiker, released on OTT in 2023.
Vikram: David (2013) was his sole foray into Hindi cinema.
Yash: Yash is now a name to reckon with after KGF and the mega-buster KGF 2. And he is now playing none other than Ravan in the Nitesh Tiwari mythological, Ramayana.
Note also that Fahadh Faasil (the Pushpa franchise) and Kiccha Sudeep (Phoonk, Dabangg 3and more) have done only supporting roles, while R. Madhavan, Jamshedpur in Bihar-born, began his career in Mumbai in Hindi. Of course, let us not forget that the iconic Rajanikanth, by birth, is a Maharashtrian!
