In 2024, Tollywood witnessed an unexpected trend: twelve prominent heroes did not have a single film release. Notably absent were Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Pawan Kalyan, and Ram Charan, among others.
Chiranjeevi, following the setback of “Bhola Shankar,” reassessed his projects, leading to a year-long hiatus. Balakrishna paused his film activities to concentrate on the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections but is preparing for releases like “Daku Maharaj” and “Akhanda 2” in 2025. Pawan Kalyan also shifted focus to politics, delaying his film ventures, though “Harihara Veeramallu” and “OG” are anticipated next year. Ram Charan has been engrossed in a project with director Shankar, resulting in a two-year absence from the silver screen.
Actors such as Nithiin, Naga Chaitanya, and Sai Dharam Tej faced career pauses due to consecutive flops or personal recoveries. Akhil, Naga Shaurya, and Adivi Sesh postponed releases for various reasons, including previous film performances and a commitment to perfectionism. Similarly, Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas and Vaishnav Tej took breaks following less successful projects.
Despite this lull, all twelve actors are expected to return with new releases in 2025, aiming to reinvigorate their cinematic journeys.