With director-turned-actor Tharun Bhascker facing disappointing box office returns for his latest film Gaayapadda Simham, trade circles suggest that his strengths still lie firmly in direction. The film has reportedly managed to collect only Rs 30–40 lakh gross in the Telugu states over the past few days, raising concerns about its recovery prospects.
A distributor notes that despite decent promotions and a release during the May Day weekend, the film failed to attract audiences. Collections in B and C centres have been particularly weak, with negligible footfall. “It needs a strong turnaround, but the current trend doesn’t look encouraging,” he says.
Industry feedback points to a weak screenplay as a major drawback, even though the core premise—reportedly involving revenge on U.S. President Donald Trump—sounded intriguing on paper.
This continues a streak of underwhelming performances for Tharun Bhascker as a lead actor. His earlier outing, Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi, also failed to impress audiences.
Interestingly, Tharun made a strong mark as a director with films like Pelli Choopulu and Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi, both of which were well received, especially among urban youth. He later ventured into acting, taking on supporting roles in films such as Mahanati, Falaknuma Das, Middle Class Melodies, Skylab, and Sammohanam. His first full-length lead role came with Meeku Mathrame Cheptha, followed by appearances in films like Sita Ramam and Keeda Cola.
However, industry insiders believe that his creative strengths are better suited behind the camera. “Direction remains his best bet,” the distributor concludes, hinting that a return to filmmaking could help him regain his winning streak.
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