Nagarjuna warns Tollywood slump looms: changing tastes demand urgent industry shift

Nagarjuna, star of the upcoming film Kuberaa, draws on past industry slumps to predict a fourth downturn in Tollywood, highlighting that only four Telugu films have crossed ₹100 crore this year. He stresses that evolving audience preferences require swift adaptation to prevent a prolonged crisis.

Sources:
Republic World+1
Updated 1h ago
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Sources: Republic World
Actor Nagarjuna has issued a cautionary note about the future of Tollywood, warning that the Telugu film industry may be heading towards its fourth slump.

Drawing from his experience, Nagarjuna said, "In my experience, the Telugu film industry has gone through a slump three times, and I strongly feel a fourth one is on the way. I9m quite sure about it." He explained that such downturns typically occur when there are no major releases and the films that do come out fail to perform well at the box office.

This year, Tollywood has seen underwhelming box office results, with only four Telugu films grossing over 2100 crore worldwide and just one crossing the 250 crore mark. These figures highlight the industry's struggle to produce consistent blockbusters.

Nagarjuna emphasized the need for the industry to adapt quickly to changing audience preferences, noting, "All these thrillers, action, and gore. People's tastes are changing, and we need to keep that in mind. They have to change fast." He contrasted Tollywood's situation with Bollywood, suggesting that while Hindi cinema may bounce back after a rough patch, Tollywood must proactively evolve to avoid a prolonged slump.

Currently preparing for his upcoming film Kuberaa, Nagarjuna remains hopeful but realistic about the challenges ahead. His warning serves as a call to action for filmmakers and producers to innovate and align with shifting viewer demands to sustain the industry's growth.

This perspective underscores the volatility of the film business and the critical importance of timely adaptation in a rapidly changing entertainment landscape.
Sources: Republic World
Actor Nagarjuna warns of an impending slump in Tollywood, citing changing audience tastes and a lack of major hits. With only four Telugu films grossing ₹100 crore this year and just one crossing ₹250 crore, he urges the industry to adapt quickly to avoid a crisis similar to past downturns.
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In my experience, the Telugu film industry has gone through a slump three times, and I strongly feel a fourth one is on the way. I’m quite sure about it. This usually happens when there are no major releases for a while, and the films that do release fail to perform well. I firmly believe another such crisis is imminent. I have a strong hunch.
Nagarjuna
Republic World
Key Facts
  • Tollywood releases in 2025 have underperformed with only four films grossing ₹100 crore+ worldwide and just one film crossing ₹250 crore.Republic World
  • Nagarjuna is preparing for his upcoming multi-starrer film Kuberaa with Dhanush and Rashmika Mandanna, which carries high expectations amid the industry's challenges.Republic World
  • Nagarjuna predicts a fourth slump in Tollywood, based on his experience of three previous slumps, citing lack of major releases and poor film performances as triggers.Republic World
  • Nagarjuna contrasts Tollywood with Bollywood, suggesting Bollywood will bounce back from its downturn while Tollywood faces tougher times ahead.1
  • Changing audience tastes are a key concern, with Nagarjuna emphasizing the need for Tollywood to adapt quickly to avoid prolonged slumps.1
  • Nagarjuna believes the Hindi film industry will recover as it has experienced downturns before and will change, but Tollywood must act fast to avoid a similar fate.1
Key Stats at a Glance
Number of Telugu films grossing ₹100 crore or more worldwide in 2025
4 films
Republic World
Number of Telugu films crossing ₹250 crore worldwide in 2025
1 film
Republic World
Number of previous slumps in Tollywood experienced by Nagarjuna
3 times
Republic World
Predicted upcoming slump in Tollywood
4th slump
Republic World
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