With pan-India films continuing to blur the lines between regional industries, director Venky Atluri, known for films like Sir and Lucky Baskhar, has shared his thoughts on Bollywood actors working in Telugu cinema. The filmmaker stressed that adapting to the local work culture is essential for anyone entering a different film industry.
Venky Atluri advises Bollywood actors entering South cinema
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Venky Atluri spoke openly about work culture, professionalism, and the growing number of Hindi actors collaborating with South filmmakers. According to him, understanding and respecting the industry’s practices is just as important as delivering a good performance.
Explaining his viewpoint, Venky said that if he were to direct a Hindi film, he would first spend time understanding the working style and culture before beginning the project.
“If I want to work in Hindi, I will take at least three months to understand how the industry functions. Similarly, when you come to Telugu cinema, you should adapt to the Telugu mindset,” he said.
The filmmaker further added that the same principle applies regardless of which industry an actor comes from.
“If I’m directing a Bollywood film, I will first learn the work culture and conditions there. Likewise, when a Bollywood actor works in Telugu cinema, they should be willing to adapt to our way of working,” Venky explained.
Speaking about shooting schedules, Atluri pointed out that Telugu films are often known for longer working hours compared to some other industries.
“We usually work for 11 to 12 hours on set. Whether an actor is from Tamil, Malayalam, or Hindi cinema, they should respect the working culture here. Anyone choosing to work in Telugu films should be comfortable with those conditions,” he said.
Venky’s remarks come at a time when collaborations between Bollywood and South cinema are becoming increasingly common, with several Hindi actors signing Telugu projects in recent years.
His comments also arrive amid recent discussions surrounding working conditions in South Indian cinema after reports claimed that Deepika Padukone stepped away from Kalki 2 and Spirit, allegedly due to differences over work schedules.
