Telugu star heroes turn to period settings for fresh appeal

Multiple Telugu film stars are adopting period settings for their upcoming big-budget films, a trend m9.news reports is driven by the need to present heroes in fresh ways. Films such as NBK111, Toxic, Fauzi, and Ranabaali are set in different historical eras, using costumes, cars, and locations as marketing hooks. The outlet notes that a period world can give a film a distinct visual identity ahead of release.

However, m9.news also warns that if too many stars go back in time, the period setting itself could become a formula. It says the era can create curiosity but cannot hide an ordinary story. Separately, the same outlet reports the rise of the pan-India market is changing star-vehicle films. Yash's Toxic, Mahesh Babu's Varanasi, Nani's The Paradise, and Prabhas' Fauzi each build a unique world around the hero, making the setting as important as the star.

The outlet says that for big-budget films targeting multiple regions, a strong concept and world can be a common attraction across audiences. The trend may grow, with the question shifting from who the hero is to what world the hero enters.