At the start of the decade, Superstar Mahesh Babu returned after a long hiatus with a blockbuster Dookudu. He followed it up with back to back successful films in consecutive years. For the first time in his career, Mahesh Babu has hit movies in successive years.
The success resulted in the debate of Telugu number one hero centring around Superstar Mahesh. However, things quickly changed in one year. The star had back to back disasters in 2014. And although he had a massive hit Srimanthudu in 2015, the Baahubali mania overshadowed it.
Post-Srimanthudu the landscape has changed unimaginably, and Mahesh Babu is left way behind in the race. The biggest issue has been openings. It has been Achilles heel for the star. With no record-breaking opening day, in the current market, it is hard to begin a number 1 talk. The long run is always dependent on the talk, and we are watching currently with Rangasthalam, how an out of form star suddenly hit it out of the park.
Mahesh Babu has a lot to prove with Bharat Ane Nenu. Unlike his last few movies, there can be no excuse this time for lack of openings. BAN is coming with a blockbuster combination, is getting prime time summer release, and has two open weeks. Where will the Koratala Siva movie start is what everyone is going to look?
The target is Pawan Kalyan’s Agnyaathavaasi both in the Telugu states and in the US. Let’s see where Bharat Ane Nenu ends in the openings tally. It is a critical week ahead for fans as the biggie is all set to hit screens on April 20.
