Why Jagapathi Babu expressed discontent over 'Guntur Kaaram' role
Telugu actor Jagapathi Babu recently stunned fans by voicing his dissatisfaction with his role in the film Guntur Kaaram, headlined by Mahesh Babu. In an interview, he stated, "I would always love to work with Mahesh Babu. But, to be honest, I didn't enjoy Guntur Kaaram." For those unaware, the actor portrayed the villainous character Dokka Marx Babu, crossing paths with Mahesh's on-screen father (Jayaram).
Why does this story matter?
Released in theaters on January 12, the family drama Guntur Kaaram was well-received at the box office despite being pitted against major releases like Hanu-Man, Captain Miller, and Merry Christmas. Its journey—from announcement to release—was fraught with multiple reshoots and script revisions. The film marked Mahesh's return to cinemas after a two-year hiatus. It featured a star-studded cast including Meenakshi Chaudhary, Sreeleela, Prakash Raj, Ramya Krishnan, Vennela Kishore, and Easwari Rao. Stream it on Netflix.
'Supposed to be very different': Babu elaborated on his experience
Babu elaborated on his experience, stating that the film's execution did not meet his initial expectations. Speaking to Times Now, Babu said, "Because it was supposed to be very different, more characterization was there." "It became sort of messy after a while, it became difficult to finish it (the film). I did whatever I had to do. I don't want to waste our (Mahesh and his) combinations on such films, it should be the best."
Meanwhile, know more about Babu, his career highlights
A towering figure in Telugu cinema, Babu boasts an impressive resume of over 170 feature films, collaborating with esteemed directors such as Ram Gopal Varma, Krishna Vamsi, Gunasekhar, Radha Mohan, and Sukumar. Over his illustrious two-decade career, Babu has shared the screen with Mahesh previously, notably portraying his father in the 2015 hit Srimanthudu. Before his role in Guntur Kaaram, Babu also appeared as one of the antagonists in the 2023 Salman Khan film Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.
Quick look at future projects of Mahesh
A few weeks after its theatrical release, Guntur Kaaram was made available on Netflix. Meanwhile, work-wise, Mahesh is currently preparing to collaborate with acclaimed filmmaker SS Rajamouli for an upcoming film—tentatively titled SSMB29—touted as an Indian version of the renowned Indiana Jones. The film is being penned by V. Vijayendra Prasad and the music is by MM Keeravani. Separately, Babu has several films lined up in various languages including Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi.
