The Director Puzzle Behind Dil Raju and Pawan Kalyan Film
Dil Raju has long been a defining name in Telugu cinema, associated with major films and strong commercial instincts. However, the last few years have not been kind to the producer, with multiple films falling short of expectations. The only notable relief came in early 2025, when a festive release during Sankranthi created momentum, standing out as his most stable result amid a string of setbacks.
At a recent industry interaction, Dil Raju openly spoke about his ambition to engineer a major turnaround, stating that his team aims to deliver a volley of blockbuster films in the near future. According to insiders, this plan is already in motion. As part of this, the production house has reportedly locked time commitments from some of the most in-demand stars and filmmakers in Indian cinema, signaling one of the most aggressive lineup strategies from any Telugu banner currently.
The team is preparing films with leading pan-Indian and Indian superstars including Prabhas, Pawan Kalyan, Salman Khan, Ajith Kumar, and Akshay Kumar. Along with these heavy-hit names, Dil Raju has also secured working windows from directors Anil Ravipudi, Vamsi Paidipally, and Haneef Adeni, the filmmaker recognized for his work on the Malayalam actioner Marco.
Vamsi Paidipally has already been confirmed to helm the Salman Khan project. Dil Raju’s brother and producer Sireesh has also recently affirmed that talks for a film featuring Pawan Kalyan are real and progressing. The project’s biggest talking point now isn’t the hero or the banner, both confirmed, but the director’s chair, which is still undecided.
Industry circles are debating whether Dil Raju will bring back hit-making director Anil Ravipudi to call the shots, or hand the megaphone to Haneef Adeni, who is trending for his hard-edged action sensibilities. There are also murmurs about a third direction, introducing a fresh director altogether, given how the producer has shown willingness to back unexpected combinations in the past.
With multiple high-profile projects blinking green lights one after the other, fans are confident about Dil Raju’s intent to reset his momentum. But until the captain of Pawan Kalyan’s film is officially announced, the anticipation surrounding this key creative choice will only intensify.
The hero is expected to play a dynamic commercial part tailored for mass appeal, and the scale of the production suggests no compromise on visibility. Who sits in the director’s seat will decide whether this ambitious slate becomes the much-needed resurgence the producer is aiming for, or another test of patience for the audience.