Where are Kannada cinema’s next stars?

On a Monday afternoon (June 23, 2026), several shows in Bengaluru were filling fast for the Samantha Ruth Prabhu starrer Maa Inti Bangaaram. It’s an action comedy, with Samantha elevating the frame with every punch, chase, and stunt. This kind of response on the first weekday after the opening weekend is something any Kannada hero would give his right arm for.

Fans of the late Sandalwood superstar Puneeth Rajkumar, during the release of his last Kannada movie ‘Gandhada Gudi’, in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Fans are praising Samantha as the “Lady Superstar.” The Telugu filmis reported to have crossed ₹50 crore at the worldwide box office. The question of why Kannada has fewer female-led movies has no clear answer, as the industry continues to underutilise several gifted female performers.

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‘Macho protagonists’

“I see fewer stories from a woman’s perspective in Kannada. I continue to see macho protagonists,” actor-politician Ramya, a bankable star in the 2000s, had often expressed her concern.

Malashree, who entertained a generation with her action-oriented role, will be seen in a movie also starring Rukmini Vasanth, the latest sensation in Indian cinema. The movie, bankrolled by KVN Productions, the makers of Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, could be a relief from the “hyper masculine” stories in the Kannada film industry.

While we wait for the emergence of strong female-led films in Kannada, the last couple of months have reiterated an even more basic dark truth: local audiences have become far more receptive to stars from neighbouring industries. For example, Peddi, starring Ram Charan, released on June 5, 2026, went on to become a blockbuster, with impressive performance in Bengaluru.

Kichcha Sudeep's fans celebrating the release of ‘Kotigobba-3’ in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

The relatively small pool of stars in Kannada cinema, compared to other film industries, has added to the challenges faced by an industry that has endured several setbacks in recent years. The industry is paying the price for having denied the regular movie-going Kannada audience quality content for many years.

“It’s like the Tenali Raman and the cat story,” director Tharun Sudhir (Kaatera, Roberrt) tells The Hindu. “He gave the cat piping hot milk. On seeing the milk next time, it ran away, thinking it was being given hot milk. Similarly, the industry consistently produced poor content, leading several film buffs to lose trust in Kannada movies.”

Young actors need support

That said, Tharun wants the Kannada audience to be more welcoming of new actors aiming big in the industry. Mango Pachcha, the debut of actor Sanchith Sanjeev, nephew of superstar Kichcha Sudeep, had all the ingredients of an engaging crime drama. It was an unconventional launch, with no typical hero-introduction song or punch dialogues. The character-driven movie had enough scope for all actors to shine.

Apart from the moniker ‘Jr Kichcha’, the movie didn’t seem like a forceful attempt to capitalise on Sudeep’s legacy. “Throughout the movie, we were conscious that we would not show any scene that makes me look like a star. Because if I need to appear like a star, I need to have a certain kind of aura around me. I am building my reputation and still getting introduced to the Kannada audience. If I start behaving like a star too soon, the audience will write me off,” he tells The Hindu.

Kichcha Sudeep's fans watching the release of ‘Kotigobba-3’ in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Sanchith’s sensible words, positive reviews from those who saw it in the first week, or critical acclaim, nothing helped Mango Pachcha attain box office success. The movie once again called attention to Kannada audiences’ resistance to watching their own movies in cinemas, especially those starring new actors. Peddi, which was released on the same day as Mango Pachcha, enjoyed good footfall, despite mixed reviews and a controversy involving the objectification of Jahnvi Kapoor, the female lead.

Ram Charan, the star of Peddi, has done two movies (Peddi and Game Changer) after his global success of RRR (2022). His co-star from the SS Rajamouli movie, Jr NTR, has also done two movies (Devara and War 2) since then. His Dragon, with KGF director Prashanth Neel, is set for 2027.

Fewer star films

Compared to their Telugu counterparts, Kannada stars have had long gaps between their projects. Yash, who last starred in KGF: Chapter 2 in 2022, will be making his big-screen return after more than four years with Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, on August 26, 2026. Rakshit Shetty has not announced his next project after featuring in the acclaimed relationship drama Sapta Sagaradaache Ello Side B in 2023. There will be no Sudeep release in 2026.