Fake YouTube records are on rise. Especially, the trend is fast catching momentum in the Telugu film industry. 1 Million views, 2 Million views, 3 Million views and so on within hours or days after the video is put on video-sharing platform depending on the star value of the film.

Initially the records have been attributed to the Jio which said to have opened up internet to many thus resulting in record views. However, it’s slowly understood that click farms have been widely and easily used to create the records. Apparently, if gossip mongers are to be believed, even YouTube who earlier used to be serious and apply ‘strike’ on such channels, is now allegedly going soft on these practices that is said to be making very easy for such fake practices. Many are now dubbing Tollywood as the Father of Fake Records on Digital platforms.

Even Bollywood marketing pundits are shocked over the YouTube records of Telugu films. Several fake clicks are allegedly behind these unique feats.

Move over from YouTube, even on Twitter, stars and their teams are deploying technically-sound people who use bots. Even Facebook pages and likes are not left by our Tollywood celebrities. While this is even common in other industries, but this kinda practice has become rampant in T-town. Even small-hero’s films are crossing million views in very less span of time.

But the moot point is will these fake-hype would really transform into buzz and garner openings. Will Tollywood open its eyes?

Telugu cinema legend Dasari Narayana Rao’s sudden death has come as a huge shock to film industry. He was all hale and hearty until six months ago. So, what really happened in the last six months that led to his death?

Dasari was first admitted into hospital on January 31. After recuperating over a period of two months in hospital, he was discharged on March 28. He looked fine and even celebrated his 75th birthday on May 4. He however was admitted in the hospital towards the end of May and this time, it proved fatal. Now, Dasari’s daughter has revealed that the ‘Balloon Surgery’ that he underwent for the second time cost him his life.

“Last year, my father underwent Balloon surgery in order to lose weight. It worked well then. He underwent the same surgery for the second time in January this year. A different doctor performed the surgery on him this time. Something went wrong and he started feeling uneasiness. When he was admitted in the hospital, doctors informed us that the surgery failed. After so many subsequent surgeries and two months of medication, his condition got stable and was discharged at the end of March.

After coming home, he used to take only liquid food through a tube fixed to his stomach. A month later, he decided to undergo another surgery that can correct the damage done by the Balloon surgery and restore his ability to take food through his mouth. For that, he was again admitted in hospital in May third week. Unfortunately, this surgery also failed and all body organs started failing one by one. And, the fatal thing happened on May 30,” she narrated the happenings in chronological order.

It became a common practice these days to mix some authentic elements to rumours and make it an ‘original’ news. That led to much wrong news being spread in the film industry, which also led to some unnecessary issues. Here is one such thing.

Apparently, with some gossip columns writing time and again that Jr NTR’s latest movie is a rip off a Tamil film, the makers of the Tamil film have decided to take a legal action. It’s being said that NTR’s upcoming movie “Jai Lava Kusa” that is being produced by his brother Kalyan Ram is a copy of Ajith’s movie “Varalaru” where the protagonist will be seen in multiple roles. As the producer approached Kalyan Ram before filing a legal complaint, this hero cum producer tackled it in style.

Playing down the plagiarism allegations, Kalyan Ram has made sure that his write will narrate the whole story to Tamil producers and after hearing the story, they felt that it’s a different and new story altogether. While Ajith played the role of two sons and a father in Varalaru, here in Telugu version there is no father role at all being played by Junior. He just plays three characters that are Good, Bad and Ugly.

Rather doing all the hungama in the courts during the time of release, leaking the story for the good will help resolve all the issues in advance. Kalyan Ram did a good thing, isn’t it?

If you are already stumped by the teaser of Rana Daggubati’s upcoming fiml ‘Nene Raju Nene Mantri’, then here comes another catalyst to raise the expectations on the film.

Actress Catherine, who was last seen playing a hot MLA in Bunny’s ‘Sarrainodu’, is playing a media baron in NRNM. One look at this working pic, we can understand that she is a mean business-minded woman, who can go the distance in order to achieve what she intends to.

Director Teja seems to have given a performance oriented character to the hot lady. Reports emerged earlier that Catherine’s character will have grey shades. If it true, she will be one sexy baddie to look forward to on big screen.

Besides this film, Catherine is playing a female lead in Gopichand’s ‘Gautam Nanda’. After losing the chance to do an item song in Khaidi No.150, Boyapati Srinu roped her in to shake her booty in a massy item song in his upcoming film starring Bellamkonda Srinivas.

Rajinikanth and Mammooty is a deadly combination. The duo’s classic Dalapathi directed by Mani Ratnam is considered as one of the classics films of the maverick filmmaker. If latest rumours are anything to go by, the makers of Rajinikanth’s next Kaala are reportedly considering Mammooty for a pivotal role.

Already the first look posters of Rajini from Kaala Karikaalan have created quite a rage online. Especially, the still of Rajini sitting on a jeep has been the talking point. The vehicle registration number indicates Maharashtra registered vehicle. But the point to be noted is “BR 1956”. This is now the source of all gossiping. Apparently, ‘BR’ indicates BR Ambedkar and year 1956 indicates the year he passed away. Since Kaala Karikaalan is a period film set in Bombay, now talk is that the film would have many real-life incidents including a part of Ambedkar’s life and time.

Buzz now is that Mammooty has been approached for Ambedkar’s role to which he said to have given his nod. If all goes well, the combo of Rajini and Mammooty will be seen once again on large screen after Dalapathi. The film directed by PA Ranjith is being produced by Dhanush. The film has Huma Qureshi as female lead.

Veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher has confirmed that he will essay the role of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a film.

‘Acting the role of anyone in contemporary history is extremely challenging, as comparisons are bound to be instant and inevitable. But as I have always reveled in challenges, I look forward to the experience of portraying PM Manmohan Singh,’ Kher reportedly told a national media house.

Kher hasn’t officially joined politics but he is known for his inclination towards BJP. His wife Kirron Kher, a noted Bollywood actress and a BJP leader, was elected as an MP in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Kher was conferred Padma Bhushan (2016) after BJP came into power, a move that attracted huge criticism last year.

Now, this pro-BJP actor will play the role of former Congress party PM Manmohan Singh in a film, which is an adaptation of Sanjaya Baru’s controversial book “The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh”. The movie is expected to hit screens in December 2018, months before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In fact, the controversial book was released ahead of the 2014 general elections.

The book gained prominence as it was written by Baru, Singh’s media adviser between 2004 and 2008. In his book, Baru has written in detail about how Singh was an alleged puppet in the hands of Sonia Gandhi.

In this age when biopics are guaranteeing both critical and commercial success, Greek God Hrithik Roshan has reportedly signed his first biopic. The actor, who was last seen in ‘Kaabil’, has signed to reprise genius mathematician, Anand Kumar in his biopic.

For those of you who don’t know about Anand Kumar, he is a mathematician from Bihar, who started the renowned “Super 30” program in Patna back in 2002. A brilliant kid in Mathematics right from his childhood, Kumar started the program with an aim to train the economically backward and underprivileged students for IIT-JEE entrance exam.

His institute, Ramanujan School of Mathematics every year conducts an exam and selects the top 30 students, who will be given coaching for IIT exam. His institute also provides the selected candidates decent accommodation for a year.

In the past, several filmmakers had approached Kumar for the rights of his biopic but he was reluctant. It seems that he finally got convinced. Tentatively titled Super 30, the film traces the life of Kumar and his rise to international fame after setting up the ‘Super 30’ program.

The biopic will be directed by Vikas Bahl, the director of highly successful film, ‘Queen’ starring Kangana.

When it comes to helping his school and college friends, Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao is going way out to do the needful. Other day as his friend Pattabhi turned director with the movie “Kaadhali”, KTR not only attended the audio launch as a guest but made sure his good friend Ram Charan will attend as a Chief Guest.

Speaking at the venue, KTR thanked Suresh Babu for helping his friend Pattabhi to realise his dream of becoming a filmmaker. Highlighting the pride of Telugu cinema, he said, “Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are excelling with Telugu industry. Even the Americans in the USA are claiming that they have seen Baahubali 2. That film took our pride to a new level. I’m very happy”. He even showered appreciation on a content-driven film like Pelli Choopulu and expected even Kaadhali would be the same.

At the same time, KTR spoke about the GST issue too. “Having a common tax, that is one-country one-tax is an appreciable thing, but imposing 28% slab tax on film industry sounds uncommon. I agree with Suresh Babu (Daggubati) garu, Sir, I’ll make sure that our Telugu industry delegation will meet Minister Arun Jaitley to make the Central Government rethink on this taxation”.

Proving that he’s a darling for Telugu Film Industry, the IT Minister also gave an example of Kamal Haasan’s reaction about quitting films if GST stuff is not changed, and vowed to fight with Centre along with representatives from other south film industries.

Aamir Khan’s Dangal is far above than SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali : The Conclusion. While Baahubali 2 is at 1665 Crore world-wide gross so far, Dangal is at 1870 Crore (281 Million USD worldwide) and is marching towards 2000-Crore mark. As per trade, Dangal would easily cross 2000 Crore figure worldwide. However, the chances of Baahubali 2 achieving this mark is a little bleak. Unless Baahubali 2 could spin a magic in China like Dangal, it may not able to touch 2000-Cr mark in the present scenario.

Since Baahubali : The Beginning earned a meagre Rs 7 Crore at China Box Office, it has to be seen how Baahubali : The Conclusion would perform in China.

Dangal Storm in China

After clocking Rs 511 crore worldwide in overseas, Dangal released in China on May 5 and earned Rs 1,097 crore till (June 5) in 30 days.

Beating Hollywood films such as xXx : Return of Xander Cage and Kong : Skull Island in China, Dangal emerged as the fourth-highest grossing film in Chinese market. Dangal is the first Indian film to achieve this mark.

Dangal : 2000 Crore in China Alone?

So far, Dangal earned 169.2 million USD at Chinese cinemas followed by  Kong : Skull Island (168.2 million USD) and xXx : Return of Xander Cage (164 million USD). Aamir’s Dangal did this feat in just 30 days.

The latest is that Chinese authorities have extended the license for Dangal for another 30 days. So, Dangal could now be screened till July 4. If unbelievable is expected, trade is keenly watching whether Dangal could do 2000-Crore alone in China in another 30 days? That may look far-sighted, but we can’t rule out the option.

The film’s phenomenal run is attributed to a combination of factors including the themes of sport and women’s empowerment, its emotional appeal and Aamir Khan’s star power after the successes of PK and 3 Idiots in China. Well, let’s wait and see.

Senior hero Nandamuri Balakrishna, who was expected to make his debut on social media to promote his last film GPSK, is gearing up for his first ever social media stint.

As per an official statement from Bhavya Creations, the production house that is producing Balayya’s 101st film, the actor and film’s director Puri Jagannath will interact with fans live on facebook on the eve of his birthday. This FB session has been planned on the night of June 9, where Balayya will interact with fans and also unveil the title and first look of #NBK101. This is truly a huge gift from Balayya to his fans.

Generally, younger heroes do these kinds of social media interactions but Balayya is doing it for the first time for his fans. As he won’t be present in India for his birthday this year (team of #NBK101 is busy shooting the film in Portugal), Balayya has decided to make it up to his fans with this FB live chat, truly an endearing gesture.

The Portugal schedule of the film began on May 13 and it will continue towards the end of this month. Makers are planning to release the movie on September 29.