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.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Lunching In Leh
Turtuk, the last town of India in Ladakh, is having a culinary and hospitality renaissance, discovers Harsh Surti
The Medieval Charm of Elsinore
Elsinore, in eastern Denmark, is a charming city full of surprises, such as its interesting link to Shakespeare, discovers Ami Bhat
Natural Selection
In other parts of the world, natural wine production can be raw, wild, and a little messy. But a road trip through southeastern Austria reveals that, in a land where order and understatement reign, even the low-intervention bottles are elegant and refined.
Where the Wild Things Are
Uncovering Rwanda's natural treasures-and the gift of multigenerational travel
FROM THE VOICE WITHIN
A hit new season of a cult show, a brand new production venture, and a baby girl-it seems Ali Fazal is on top of the world right now. Amid a new parenting journey, the actor talks to SAMREEN TUNGEKAR about his travel persona, his instincts, and what feeds the artiste within him
MONSOON IN THE WILD
For nature lovers craving the lush serenity of monsoon forests, off-season safaris in national park buffer zones offer rare rewards and vital support to local economies, discovers Chandreyi Bandyopadhyay.
Ray of Sunshine
Getting diagnosed with life-threatening ailments can spell doom, but for actor Lisa Ray, it became a testament to her resilience. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2009, the former model maintained a positive outlook, blossomed into a vocal advocate for cancer awareness and support, and turned author with a book chronicling her story. In a chat with Bayar Jain, she gets candid about her journey of hope and healing
Championing Change with Conversations That Matter
Aditi Mayer is a responsible storyteller who likes to look at fashion through a lens of social and environmental justice. She tells Samreen Tungekar about how she manages her own mental health and wellness despite work that promotes positive change and requires mental bandwidth
Travelling Through Conscious Well-Being
In the ever-evolving landscape of wellness, where data meets intuition and science aligns with ancient practices, Deepak Chopra stands as a unique bridge between these worlds. Chopra talks to Dipali Patwa about how travel, when intertwined with wellness, becomes a powerful catalyst for personal transformation.
Transcending The 'Trend'
For Rimzim Dadu, the creation of a collection is about lending the pieces a timeless quality. Samreen Tungekar talks to the designer about her creative process, and how her travels intersperse with her approach to design