Indian cinema boasts countless actors, many of whom have portrayed a wide range of characters. Yet, can you imagine that for the first time in Indian film history, an actor has played only hero roles for the past 50 years?
Remarkably, this actor recently agreed to make a cameo appearance in Tamil cinema for the very first time, but bringing that plan to fruition has proved tricky.
The actor in question is Telugu superstar Nandamuri Balakrishna, fondly known as ‘Balayya’, who commands a massive fan following in Telugu cinema.
Even at 65, he remains active on screen, delivering hits year after year. Beyond acting, Balakrishna also serves as the MLA for Hindupuram in Andhra Pradesh. Often hailed as the ‘Mass God’ of Telugu cinema, he has acted in over a 100 films to date.
As widely known, Balakrishna is the sixth son of the legendary actor and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister NT Rama Rao (NTR). Following in his father’s footsteps, he entered the world of cinema at the age of 14. He first appeared as a child artist in Tatamma Kala and later transitioned to leading roles in the 1980s. Since then, for nearly five decades, he has appeared exclusively as a hero.
Balakrishna has never taken on any other type of role throughout his cinematic journey. Notably, he recently earned a place in the world record books for completing 50 years in the industry while acting solely as a leading man. Known for his energetic persona, Balayya continues to compete with younger stars, consistently delivering at least one blockbuster each year, even past the age of 65.
His 110th film, Akhanda 2, is due for release shortly. During a promotional event in Chennai, he remarked, “Madras is my birthplace, Telangana is my karma bhoomi, Andhra is my soul bhoomi. It has been 50 years since I entered the film industry. I am still acting as a hero. I have given four hits in a row now.”
As reported earlier, Balakrishna had agreed to make his first-ever cameo appearance in Tamil cinema, playing a police officer in Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2, with reports suggesting he was offered a hefty remuneration. However, it has now emerged that Balayya will not be part of the film after all. Owing to his busy schedule, he has opted out, and Vijay Sethupathi is now said to be taking up the police role in his place.
