Actresses in Tollywood are shifting away from glam-centric roles and taking on more action-oriented characters, often wielding weapons to showcase their versatility.
One prominent example is Mrunal Thakur, who steps into a new avatar in the Telugu film Dacoit, where she is seen carrying a pistol. She joins other actresses like Samantha, Anupama Parameswaran, and Kajal Agarwal, who have embraced action-packed roles in recent projects.
Mrunal Thakur
Producer Lagadapati Sridhar notes that this image makeover is key for actresses looking to break free from their typical glam roles and prove they can handle intense action sequences. Samantha, for example, has been seen loading guns and fighting off opponents in the Hindi series Citadel, while Kajal Aggarwal showcased her own gun-wielding skills in Satyabhama.
Younger actresses such as Samyuktha Menon, Anupama Parameswaran, and Faria Abdullah are also joining this trend, keen to diversify their roles.
Faria Abdullah
Director Hemanth Madhukar, who trained actress Anjali for the film Nishabdam, explains that gun-toting roles help actresses reach wider audiences and elevate their brand. "These roles allow actresses to showcase their versatility and break free from the monotony of typical glamour roles," he says.
Samyuktha Menon
Actresses like Chandini Choudhury, Anasuya Bharadwaj, and Payal Rajput have also embraced the fiery, action-driven characters, knowing that such roles help build their image and appeal to a broader fanbase. Priyamani, who starred in Virata Parvam and Jawan, emphasizes that these roles are often part of a larger image makeover. She mentions her rigorous training for Jawan, where she and her co-stars underwent extensive preparation under expert trainers to handle weapons and perform action sequences convincingly.
This shift toward action roles highlights the growing desire among Tollywood actresses to break away from traditional glam roles and showcase their strength and versatility on screen.
