‘At Least Everybody Knows My Face Now!’

Actor
Allu
Arjun
discussed
his
blockbuster

Pushpa
series
at
the
World
Audio
Visual
and
Entertainment
Summit
(WAVES)
2025
event
on
May
1,
and
also
emphasised
the
importance
of
fitness
in
an
actor’s
life.

“At
least
everybody
knows
my
face
now!”
he
exclaimed.

“I
am
a
regional
actor,
and
work
in
Telugu
films.
I
have
popularity
in
other
parts
of
the
south
but
now,
because
of

Pushpa
and
with
the
love
of
the
Indian
audience
now,
I
am
a
more
familiar
face,
and
everyone
knows
me.”

The
actor
has
had
a
big
year,
with
his
film

Pushpa
2:
The
Rule
creating
history
at
the
box
office.
Released
last
December,
the
movie
went
on
to
break
several
records.

Directed
by
Sukumar,
the
action-drama
features
Allu
Arjun
in
the
role
of
Pushpa
Raj,
alongside
Rashmika
Mandanna
and
Fahadh
Faasil.

The
actor
has
also
received
the
National
Award
for
Best
Actor
for
his
performance
in

Pushpa:
The
Rise.

Allu
Arjun
shared
how
he
approaches
fitness,
saying,
“It
is
about
the
mindset.
Back
in
those
days,
about
20
years
ago,
there
were
a
lot
of
taboos
around
that.
I
knew
that
it
needed
only
one
person
to
break
that.
Someone
motivated
me
by
saying,
‘I
do
not
think
South
actors
can
come
up
with
six
packs.’
One
of
the
actresses
I
worked
with
said
that,
and
I
took
it
as
a
challenge
and
did
it
for
my
people.

“Obviously,
fitness
is
a
very
keen
aspect
of
every
actor
because
especially
being
an
Indian
actor,
you
have
to
dance,
you
have
to
fight,
and
you
do
not
know
when
the
schedule
might
start.
It
may
start
from
a
song
or
a
fight…
you
have
to
be
physically
prepared
for
everything.
So
fitness
is
extremely
important.

“I
started
at
a
very
young
age,
at
the
age
of
19-20.
Over
the
years,
I
got
a
lot
of
experiences
and
injuries.
It
is
extremely
tough
but
worth
it
when
you
see
yourself
on
the
big
screen
and
have
millions
of
people
appreciating
it,”
he
said.

On
talking
about
maintaining
his
versatility
as
an
actor,
he
said,
“Every
movie
is
unique,
and
every
movie
should
not
repeat
itself.
But
unknowingly,
we
all
have
patterns.
As
much
as
possible,
consciously,
we
should
try
to
remove
those
patterns
and
try
to
come
up
with
something
new,
something
original.
In
such
a
competitive
world,
you
have
to
present
your
best.
That
inspiration
to
serve
people
something
new,
something
best
has
made
me
a
versatile
actor.
I
think
versatility
is
a
by-product.”

He
opened
up
about
an
accident,
saying,
“After
shooting
for
my
tenth
film,
I
had
an
accident.
I
had
a
shoulder
rotator
cuff
tear.
I
was
known
for
my
physical
fitness
and
acrobatic
skills,
and
when
I
broke
my
shoulder
—
I
did
have
a
minor
tear
before,
and
it
was
just
a
small
surgery,
and
I
was
back
in
three
weeks.
Within
the
fourth
week,
I
was
in
the
gym.
So
this
time,
I
was
expecting
the
same.
Once
I
went
to
the
hospital,
it
was
in
Australia,
the
doctor
said
you
have
to
take
six
months
off.

“That
was
a
big
blow
for
me
because
we
have
to
start
shooting
in
two-three
months
and
I
did
not
have
that
time.
That
was
the
most
fearful
moment
as
I
was
banking
on
my
physical
fitness.
Then
this
stuck
my
mind
that
physical
fitness
and
agility
will
deteriorate
by
age
so
what
matters
is
your
performance.
So
I
started
focussing
on
that
after
by
my
tenth
film…”