Alia and Janhvi Debuts wasted

Bollywood heroines might start thinking twice before accepting roles in Telugu films under the pan-India label. Recently, Janhvi Kapoor followed in the footsteps of Alia Bhatt by making her Tollywood debut, only to face similar challenges. Both actresses entered the industry with high expectations, but their characters were overshadowed by the male leads' heroism.

Director Koratala Siva himself admitted that writing Janhvi’s role, *Thangam*, in *Devara* was a challenge. However, despite the effort, her role ended up being minimal, with her screen time significantly reduced, especially after the removal of a song. Rumors suggest she was paid a hefty Rs 5 crore, but if true, it seems like a waste given her limited presence in the film. In contrast, Deepika Padukone’s role as *Sumathi* in *Kalki 2898 AD* was well-received and substantial.

This pattern has raised concerns for Bollywood actresses. Moving forward, they may need to assess their roles more carefully before signing on for Telugu films, ensuring that "pan-India" projects don’t diminish their significance on screen.