Acclaimed filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli, who is currently working on his much-awaited fictional period drama RRR, has confirmed his next directorial venture. In his latest interview to a popular news channel, Rajamouli confirmed that he is teaming up with Tollywood superstar Mahesh Babu for his next film.
Earlier, speculations were rife that the filmmaker was planning to reunite with Prabhas. However, he has now clarified that his next project after RRR will not be with the Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017) star.
Talking about his film with Mahesh Babu, Rajamouli said, “This project has been in the pipeline for a long time. I already said that I will be doing a film for producer KL Narayana and this project will be with Mahesh Babu.”
The untitled project marks the first collaboration between S. S. Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu. The film will most likely hit the shooting floor towards the end of 2021 or in early 2022. There is no update on whether or not the female lead has been finalized.
Rajamouli is presently consumed with RRR. Starring Ram Charan, Jr NTR, Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt in crucial characters, the film was being shot at a brisk pace. However, the shoot had to be stalled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The team will resume the shoot once the lockdown is lifted.
On the other hand, Mahesh Babu will soon start work on his next film, after receiving humongous response for his last release Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020). The upcoming film reunites the superstar with hit director Vamshi Paidipally after the earth-shattering success of their previous outing, Maharshi (2019).
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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