Star Power Fades at Box Office in 2025

Tollywood witnessed a dull phase at the box office in 2025, with even star-hero films failing to perform as expected. Lack of strong promotions, pre-release content, and engaging buzz significantly affected openings. Industry observers note that the stardom enjoyed by top heroes in the past has declined, making it difficult to score a hit solely on image. In 2025, several big-budget and prestigious films failed to secure strong openings. Movies like Game Changer, War 2, Hari Hara Veeramallu, and OG could not meet box - office expectations, reinforcing the fact that star presence alone is no longer enough — solid content is essential.

Experts believe that regardless of a hero’s stature or regional popularity, a box-office failure can impact a career. If a film does not meet audience expectations, it shows from day one. Making films only for fans is no longer sufficient; attracting neutral audiences to theatres is crucial. Pawan Kalyan’s films serve as a clear example. While OG emerged as a massive success by collecting around ₹140 crore gross and setting records, Hari Hara Veeramallu, released earlier, failed to achieve even half those openings. The key difference, analysts say, lies in audience acceptance of the story. Filmmakers are therefore advised to remember that content plays the most vital role in creating pre-release buzz — without it, failure is inevitable.