The giant leap of Tamil superstar Vijay from cinema superstardom to politics and getting closer to becoming Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, if everything goes well, may inspire many, but noted Telugu writer Gopi Mohan believes Telugu A-listers like Prabhas, Ram Charan, Jr NTR and Allu Arjun or Mahesh Babu are unlikely to rush into politics anytime soon. “I don’t think every actor would be tempted to enter politics because cinema and politics are two completely different games,” says Gopi Mohan.
He points out that some Telugu stars have participated in political campaigns in the past, but only for personal or emotional reasons. Jr NTR campaigned for the Telugu Desam Party nearly two decades ago, while Allu Arjun supported his friend Shilpa Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy of the YSR Congress Party during the 2024 elections. Similarly, Ram Charan campaigned for his uncle Pawan Kalyan in Pithapuram in the 2024 assembly elections.
“These stars campaigned only for a special purpose — for friends, relatives, or parties they were emotionally connected to. I don’t think they have long-term political plans,” he adds.
According to Gopi Mohan, charisma, good looks and acting talent may help actors build massive fan bases, but winning elections requires much more. “Capturing the hearts of voters needs deep-rooted policies, social commitment and a genuine connection with people,” he explains.
He notes that Prabhas, Allu Arjun, Ram Charan and Jr NTR are currently enjoying unprecedented pan-Indian fame and are still relatively young compared to Vijay, who entered politics in his fifties. “Maybe they may think about politics after another 10 to 15 years. Right now, they are enjoying global recognition and success as actors,” he says.
The writer also recalls how legendary Telugu stars like N. T. Rama Rao, Krishna and Chiranjeevi stepped into politics with a desire to serve people, while actors like Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Sobhan Babu preferred to remain acting legends.
“If an actor is truly passionate about serving people, then politics becomes a natural choice. Otherwise, many actors are happy staying in their comfort zone and leading peaceful lives,” he says.
He stresses that public service matters more than celebrity image. “Beyond acting and dancing skills, people should see leadership qualities and a people-friendly vision in an actor before electing him. Charisma alone is not enough to win votes,” he points out.
Speaking about Pawan Kalyan’s political journey, Gopi Mohan says the actor chose a difficult path despite enjoying enormous stardom. “He mingled with people, addressed rallies, worked hard for years and finally emerged as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. It took dedication and commitment,” he says.
He concludes by drawing a clear distinction between cinematic fame and political success. “Pan-Indian stardom and becoming the head of a state are as different as chalk and cheese. Actors who seriously want to enter politics should start planning early and align their films and public image accordingly — much like Vijay did with films like Thuppakki, Sarkar and Jana Nayagan before launching his political career,” he concludes.
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