ROAD to STARDOM

Hyderabad is well known for two things, its biryani and boisterous movies-and superstar Allu Arjun loves both. On an outing in the city with SIMRRAN GILL, the August cover star opens up about the success of Pushpa, going incognito in far-flung lands, and his daughter's growing fan base.

- SIMRRAN GILL

I HAD HEARD OF AND partly experienced Bengaluru’s unpredictable rains, but the sporadic spells of Hyderabad come as a surprise. As does superstar Allu Arjun’s enigma. Having spent a considerable time in the south of India, I am aware of the hold that film stars have over their audiences. But this seems totally different. As soon as our cover star walks in, the lobby of the hotel is filled with both excited squeals and pin-drop silence. While he makes his way to the green room, we check out our wheels partner—the Volvo XC40 Recharge, a natural choice for the cover shoot. Our August issue celebrates India and the myriad road trip opportunities the country offers, and what better way to explore a city sustainably than in a versatile EV?

As our crew and cover star gear up for the first shot, it is easy to make out why the audience loves him on screen. While his presence is commanding, his aura is completely laid-back. It is almost like watching a well-packaged movie on screen. And Allu Arjun agrees. “Songs, fights, drama, love story, and humour—a multi-genre film has all of it. This is our very own original format through which we serve the masses, and the Indian audience loves to see this,” he says.

Allu Arjun is also one of the few actors who has delivered hits across the country. But he never lets it get to his head. “The achievement feels great. I am both happy and humbled by all the love that the audience showers on my movies,” he shares. At this point, I’m also intrigued to know what he thinks makes Telugu cinema different from the rest. “A Telugu film is more action-oriented and also is a protagonist-based one,” he answers quickly.