Pawan Kalyan, the celebrated South Indian actor and politician, has recently revealed his long-standing desire to retire from the film industry. In a candid interview, he shared that he had considered quitting films as early as 2006 or 2007. Kalyan, who is currently serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, has been balancing his political responsibilities with his acting career.
Kalyan's initial plan was to direct five films and then retire from acting. He had even envisioned directing his first film, "Johnny," in a way that would allow him to transition into directing full-time. However, the film's performance did not meet his expectations, altering his course. Despite this setback, Kalyan's interest in directing and filmmaking remained. He has been actively involved in various aspects of his films, including script writing, choreography, and action sequences.
His desire to leave cinema stemmed from a deeper aspiration to dedicate himself to politics and social work. Kalyan has always been driven by a desire to contribute to society and address social issues. However, he faced a significant challenge: the lack of an alternative financial source. This financial constraint compelled him to continue working in films. Beyond acting, Kalyan also has a production house that he intends to activate. He believes that now is the right time to focus on production.
Kalyan made his acting debut in 1996 with the Telugu film "Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi". Following this, he starred in several successful films, including "Gokulamlo Seeta" (1997), "Tholi Prema" (1998), "Thammudu" (1999), "Badri" (2000), and "Kushi" (2001). In 2003, he made his directorial debut with "Johnny," which did not perform well at the box office. He then starred in films such as "Gudumba Shankar" (2004), "Balu" (2005), "Bangaram" (2006), and "Annavaram" (2006). After a brief hiatus, he returned with "Jalsa" (2008), which was a commercial success.
Acknowledging the difficulty of balancing his film commitments with his political duties, Kalyan has expressed uncertainty about how many more films he will undertake. Despite his passion for cinema, he recognizes that his political responsibilities must take precedence. Recently, producer A.M. Rathnam confirmed that Kalyan would not participate in promotional activities for his upcoming film "Hari Hara Veera Mallu" due to his political obligations as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Kalyan also revealed that he helped design and choreograph a 20-minute fight scene for "Hari Hara Veera Mallu", showcasing his martial arts background.
Reflecting on his career, Kalyan shared an early experience that almost led him to quit acting. He recounted an incident where he had to dance on top of a bus in Vishakhapatnam and felt so self-conscious that he wanted to quit. Despite these challenges, Kalyan has become one of the most popular and influential figures in Telugu cinema. His fans have even coined the term "Pawanism" to describe his unique style and persona.
