Any film industry anywhere in the world will have actors coming from different backgrounds, language and culture playing the roles on screen. Telugu industry is not an exception when it comes to boasting talents from different states and regions.

What’s so shocking is that audiences don’t even know that some celebrities are not even born Telugu or nowhere close to Telugu until they got their first chance here. In the olden days and now, heroine Jamuna is looked up as a big Telugu icon after Savitri, but she’s a born Kannadiga. At the same time, character artist Sudha, who is popular for playing mother to many heroes, is a Tamilian. Fluent Telugu anchor Suma is a Malayalee and Charmi who speaks fluent Telugu is not a Hyderabadi but shifted to here from Mumbai for a film career.

The likes of Prakash Raj and Pavitra Lokesh also hail from Kannada though they have settled down here in Hyderabad, making it their second home. Hero Raja who has already quit films is also Tamilian who could speak Telugu fluently due to his stay in Vizag.

One twist is that actress Pragathi who is popular for her mother roles is known in the industry as  Tamil girl who used to fly here earlier from Chennai. But she’s a Telugu lady who is born and brought up in Hyderabad. Dot.

The latest news rocking T-town is the alleged rift between Puri Jagannadh and Jr NTR.  Buzz is that Puri has stolen an idea from Puri’s script and used it for his ongoing Jai Lava Kusa. Talk is that Puri had narrated a story to Tarak sometime back that is pretty close to Jai’s character shown in the teaser. After seeing the teaser, Puri was said to be shell-shocked. Apparently, Puri lost his cool and created a huge scene on the sets of his ongoing film Paisa Vasool.

Puri had reportedly described Jr NTR as ‘Script Chor’. Sources close to Puri revealed that Puri’s story too feature a character with shades of Ravana that NTR got excited. Although both wanted to work for it, it didn’t materialise due to alleged creative differences. NTR had apparently suggested some changes in it to which Puri said no and this said to have put the project on the backburner.

A leading English daily has reported the whole issue claiming that the source was from Puri’s camp.When it contacted director Bobby, he quashed them as rumours and stated that it was his idea to have stammer for one of the characters. He said that he is not aware of anyone discussing similar to Tarak and added that the film would speak for itself. Meanwhile, both Puri and NTR remained tight-lipped on the issue. More details are yet to furnish.

The only big reason for the delay of “Spyder” is- most insiders say it is Mahesh Babu. Apparently, our star hero is making his debut in Kollywood with this film, which is making him take utmost care about the project. But isn’t that becoming a costly affair?

According to the grapevine, a song that should be shot in 4 days is now taking 7-8 days for Mahesh Babu to finish. Already huge money, say 1.5 crores, is spent to build the set for the song, while dancers from Mumbai are brought in to do the best. But you know what, Mahesh don’t want to do the lip-sync just for Telugu version and get the Tamil version dubbed over it.

Mahesh wants to sing Tamil lines as well and go for extra takes for them. If each and every line is to be conceived in both Telugu and Tamil and in a perfect way, then it is like doing two songs altogether. That’s why days are simply extending.

While all these extended affairs are going to cost a bit to the producer, they are happy that the film in its two languages is bringing them more table-profits than expected. But it’s only the release date that is posing a little worry. And we have to see if all these care will help Mahesh Babu secure a win at Tamil box office.

Directed by AR Murugadoss, Spyder features Mahesh and Rakul Preet in the leads, while Haris Jayaraj is composing music. September 27th is the tentative release date.

Naming films after superstars, their pet names and also their favourite things is one interesting that happens many times in Telugu film industry.

A director named Selvaah is now donning the getup of a Rajnikanth look-alike and coming up with the film titled “12.12.1950”. Some of you might have got the title already, it’s nothing but birth date of Rajnikanth. The director says that this film is 70pc comedy and 30pc GST. He has his own abbreviation for GST which reads Gangster, Stunts and Thriller. While the makers are claiming that this is a perfect tribute to Rajnikanth, fans are little worried now.

Earlier when a filmmaker from Bollywood arena names his film as “Rajnikanth”, our star hero even went to court to stop him from using so. But will he now allow to use his birth date, 12.12.1950 to be used as a title? Director Selvaah has the answer.

“I’ve met Rajni sir on March 3rd and took his blessings for the movie. My story deals with the story of four guys named Muthu, Basha, Billa and Ejaman, all are titles of Rajni sir’s films. He’s immensely loved it”, said the director. In that case, 12.12.1950 is going to be a perfect tribute, isn’t it?

Late actor Uday Kiran’s elder sister Sridevi in her interview to a YouTube channel cleared the air about Chiranjeevi’s effect on her brother’s career.

A few blamed Chiranjeevi for suppressing Uday’s career post the breaking the engagement with his daughter, which eventually led to the suicide of the young actor.

Sridevi thrashed all those rumors and said that Chiranjeevi was like a Godfather to Uday Kiran.

“Uday Kiran used to be under depression after the breakup with his girlfriend (journalist) and couldn’t come out of it. Chiranjeevi garu talked to him and helped him come out of it at that time.

Later he came up with the proposal of marriage with his elder daughter. However, after the engagement Uday found out that they were a mismatch and not compatible. He told the same to Chiranjeevi garu and called off the marriage. It was Uday’s decision,” Sridevi said.

Sridevi indirectly blamed Uday’s wife Vishita for him to take that grave decision to end his life.

She said that Vishita never maintained any relations with them even before or after the death of Uday Kiran.

“I am not getting the amount speculated by the media, but I am getting enough to satisfy,” said NTR about his remuneration for Big Boss.

It is known that ever since the promos of Big Boss have been on air, NTR has been getting huge response. Naturally, this has led to discussions about NTR’s remuneration.

Talk is that he will be getting Rs 50 lakhs per episode. And for each season there will be 12 episodes which amount to Rs 6 crores per season.

And Star Maa is planning to make 3 seasons with NTR. Which means as per math, NTR will be pocketing a cool Rs 18 crores in all.

Now, for the amount, it is not that NTR will be seen in all episodes. He will just play anchor to the show and it is the contestants that will be seen in each episode.

So, that will make NTR’s remuneration higher than what Nagarjuna and Chiranjeevi were given for their telly entry.

Well, Rs 50 lakhs for a mere few minutes is what NTR will be charging which makes him the ‘big boss’.