Despite the strength and talent of stars, the leading actresses in Telugu movies continue to struggle at the box office. The latest example is Samantha’s Subham, which has not made any impact despite her quirky role. The frigid reaction highlights a persistent trend – Telugu audiences are still reluctant to accept films led by women only.
“When it comes to the cinema, Telugu audiences are still somewhat masculine chauvinistic,” acknowledged. “They rarely support the film as a female leader, preferring male heroes who play dominant, superhero-like roles. It’s unfortunate, but it reflects the reality of the industry.”
This deep-rooted gap gives actresses the risk of playing important, author-supported roles. However, changes may arise. Now everyone’s eyes are focused on Rashmika Mandanna, who is taking on his girlfriend’s first female leadership role after a series of high-profile roles that face stars such as Allu Arjun and Ranbir Kapoor.
“I hope Rashmika breaks Jinx,” Sridhar said. “Like Shraddha Kapoor in Bollywood and Stree 2, she can help redefine audience expectations and open the door to more stories of female leaders in Telugu movies.”
