Pawan Kalyan: Bollywood’s Cultural Identity Crisis and South Indian Cinema’s Ascendancy

Telugu actor and politician Pawan Kalyan has ignited a debate regarding the state of Indian cinema, specifically criticizing Bollywood for losing its cultural identity. In an interview, he noted the influence of globalization on Hindi cinema and its impact on the portrayal of culturally connected characters. He differentiated between the independent identities of India’s various film industries, praising South Indian films for retaining a stronger connection to Indian values. He mentioned ‘Dangal’ as a noteworthy example of Bollywood’s cultural roots. Kalyan is currently working on multiple film projects including ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’, set for a 2025 release, and ‘They Call Him OG’, scheduled for this year, along with ‘Ustaad Bhagat Singh’.