Malayalam cinema seems to be the new destination for Telugu actresses, with several Tollywood divas increasingly looking beyond their home industry for challenging roles and fresh opportunities.
Bhagyashree Borse, who has been making her presence felt with films such as Kaantha and Lenin, recently shared a photograph with Malayalam superstar Mohanlal and expressed her excitement about working with him. “Dearest Mohanlal sir, to be your co-actor feels like a blessing. Every day of the shoot, I get to see cinema through your eyes and learn from you. You are truly gifted, sir,” she wrote.
Bhagyashree is now part of Mohanlal’s upcoming film Operation Ganga, marking another Telugu actress making her way into Malayalam cinema.
Anushka Shetty, meanwhile, is all set to make her Malayalam debut with the horror-fantasy Kathanar, where she plays the mystical character Kalliyankattu Neeli. The film, which is being planned as a two-part saga, revolves around Kadamattathu Kathanar, the legendary 9th-century Christian priest believed to possess magical powers.
Tamannaah made her Malayalam debut with Bandra, while Uppena fame Krithi Shetty shared screen space with Tovino Thomas in Ajayante Randam Moshanam. Anjali, too, earned critical appreciation for her performance in the Malayalam film Iratta.
So, what is drawing Telugu actresses towards Malayalam cinema?
“Malayalam films offer challenging roles,” says director Hemanth Madhukar. According to him, the growing interest is largely driven by the kind of stories and characters being offered.
“Every actor wants to work in Malayalam films because they offer challenging roles and refreshing stories and opportunities to showcase their craft instead of just being a glam prop. Today, language is becoming less important when the content is strong. We are clearly in the era of multilingual cinema, and actresses are also expanding their horizons,” he says.
The growing popularity of Malayalam films beyond Kerala has also played a role in this shift. Films such as Manjummel Boys and Thudarum Eko and Balan have found audiences outside the Malayalam-speaking market, while OTT platforms have made it easier for viewers across India to discover new Malayalam stories.
“Malayalam films are being embraced by non-Malayali audiences in a big way, signalling the rise of new-age cinema. Subtitles have removed much of the language barrier, and audiences have become accustomed to watching Malayalam films on OTT platforms. Malayalam cinema is truly back in the spotlight,” adds Hemanth.