4 min readMumbaiNov 29, 2024 09:08 PM IST
Telugu star and National Award-winning actor Allu Arjun has spoken candidly about his experience of working on the blockbuster film Pushpa: The Rise and its highly anticipated sequel, Pushpa: The Rule. At a press conference in Mumbai on Friday, Arjun shared his emotional journey of shooting for movies over the past five years. The actor revealed that he was eager to complete the project so that he could finally shave off his beard, which has been a part of his character’s look. Arjun expressed his desire to kiss his daughter properly, which he hasn’t been able to do in the past three to four years due to his beard.
The Pushpa star began by revealing that he had been waiting to finish shooting for Pushpa so that he could finally shave off his beard. “I shot this film for almost five years, including the first and second parts. I was waiting for this film to get over so that I could clean shave. My daughter doesn’t come to me because I can’t kiss her because I’ve a beard. I haven’t kissed her properly in the last three to four years,” he said.
Allu Arjun also shared a heartwarming anecdote about his co-star Rashmika Mandanna, who finished shooting for the film a day before him. “I was like, ‘Are you joking? Why are you tearing up? She was like, ‘In almost seven years of my career, I have shot for this film for five years, it’s (set) like a home.’ I said, ‘We will miss you, and that life goes on,'” Arjun recalled.
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However, when the actor finished shooting for the film the next day, he was overcome with emotion. “The next day, when I finished my shoot, I went quiet. It got very heavy for me. I saw all the faces and I thought how for the last five years I have been seeing the same people,” he said.
Allu Arjun also spoke about the pressure he felt to deliver a hit film, not just for himself, but for the entire Telugu film industry. “Only three times I got this feeling that I want this film to become a big hit. The first time when Pushpa became a big hit, and one of the surveys said that Pushpa 2 is expected to be the biggest film in India. I was thinking that it is a big thing for us (the Telugu film industry) as the whole of India is expecting this film from us, so I should be responsible because it will bring good name for my homeland,” he said.
The actor also expressed his admiration for Pushpa director Sukumar and his desire to see the film succeed for his sake. “One day when I saw Sukumar garu working and I saw how much he was struggling, I was wishing in my heart that I want this film to be a hit for him, more than anybody else. Not for me, I’ll get another film,” Arjun said.
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Ultimately, Allu Arjun’s desire to see Pushpa: The Rule succeed is driven by his sense of responsibility towards the entire team that has worked tirelessly on the movie over the past five years. “The third time when I felt this was when once I packed up and realised Pushpa is not about me, not about him (director Sukumar), it is about the crew, technicians, unit members, actors, my actress working for the last five years. This film belongs to bouncers, unit (members), and everybody. So for all of them who have invested five years into this film, I want this film to be a hit and make it meaningful for them. Hence, I got emotional on the last day of the shoot. I’m saying it with utmost humility that I want this film to be a hit for everybody else and not me, but for everybody’s effort,” he said.
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Pushpa 2 is scheduled to be released in cinemas all over the world on December 5.
Allu Arjun at Pushpa 2 promotional event in Mumbai. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)