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The Telugu film industry thrives not only on star-driven blockbusters but also relies heavily on consistent contributions from young and mid-range heroes to ensure year-round business vitality. However, the first quarter of 2025 has proven to be highly disappointing, particularly for Tollywood’s emerging actors, as none of their films managed to leave a mark at the box office.

Vishwak Sen, known for his energetic performances, released Laila on February 14 with high hopes. Unfortunately, the film turned out to be the biggest setback of his career, deepening the actor’s ongoing struggle for a commercial comeback over the past few years.

Sundeep Kishan, another talented actor awaiting a major breakthrough, brought Mazaka to theatres in the same month. Despite heavy promotional efforts and personal investment in the project, the film failed to resonate with audiences and added yet another box-office disappointment to his filmography.

In March, Kiran Abbavaram, who had previously found success with Ka, attempted to continue his momentum with Dilruba. However, the film failed to meet expectations and ended up as a significant failure, breaking the positive streak he had started to build.

The same month saw the release of Nithiin’s much-anticipated film Robinhood. While Nithiin has experienced fluctuating success in recent years, Robinhood too could not find favor with audiences, resulting in yet another underwhelming performance for the actor.

April brought Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s Jack to the big screen. Riding high on the success of DJ Tillu and Tillu Square, Siddhu entered the year with high expectations. However, Jack failed to generate pre-release buzz and was met with negative reviews upon release, making it one of the most disappointing ventures in Siddhu’s career.

This string of underperforming releases underscores the urgent need for fresh narratives and stronger content from Tollywood’s young talent pool. While star-hero films continue to dominate, a healthy industry ecosystem requires consistent success from rising actors as well. As the year progresses, all eyes will be on upcoming releases to revitalize the mid-range segment and bring much-needed balance to the box office.