Actor Kiran Abbavaram speaks straight forward from his heart without any thoughts. He speaks about his upcoming film Dilruba, present scenario of the films, about his remuneration, his upcoming projects and many other topics…
suresh kavirayani
Actor Kiran Abbavaram is known for speaking from the heart without overthinking his words. In a candid conversation, he shared insights about his upcoming film Dilruba, the current state of cinema, his remuneration, upcoming projects, and more.
Following the success of KA, Kiran is now gearing up for Dilruba, co-starring Rukshar Dhillon and directed by Vishwa Kanu. Set to release on March 14, the film is a fresh attempt at a new-age commercial entertainer. “We have already revealed a lot about the story in different interactions,” Kiran shared, adding that the film respects women and will resonate strongly with female audiences. “I am confident that the female audience will enjoy this film a lot,” he asserted.
Reflecting on KA, where he opened up about his personal life, childhood struggles, and emotional experiences, Kiran dismissed the idea that it was a strategy to gain sympathy. “I don’t like the word ‘sympathy.’ We took a lot of risks to reach this point. When I spoke about my mother and her struggles, people called it a sympathy move, but I disagree. It wasn’t sympathy that worked for the film—it was the content,” he explained. “If sympathy could make a film collect Rs 50 crores, I’d sit and cry for hours, but that’s not how it works,” he added.
When asked why he appeared more relaxed about Dilruba compared to KA, Kiran admitted, “To be honest, my mindset was different a month ago. But after watching Dilruba, I became confident that it will entertain the audience.” He acknowledged that recent films like Sankranthiki Vasthunnam and Dragon had similar narratives involving an ex-girlfriend taking care of the protagonist, but he is confident in Dilruba’s unique storytelling. “I accepted this project before those films were even announced. While shooting, we learned about their stories and watched them, but our film is narrated in a completely fresh way, so there’s no comparison,” he said.
Addressing whether he has increased his remuneration after KA’s success, Kiran responded frankly, “Yes, I have to hike my salary. Earlier, a few thousand rupees were enough, but now expenses have risen into lakhs, so it’s necessary.” He also shared his concerns about the current state of cinema, saying, “The industry is going through a tough phase. I hope things improve, but right now, cinema depends heavily on the theatrical business. If a film does well in theaters, only then does it succeed. I believe everyone needs to focus on creating quality cinema—otherwise, only ten to fifteen films will perform well in theatres.”
With Dilruba releasing during exam season, Kiran acknowledged the risks involved. “Yes, I am a bit nervous about the openings, but I couldn’t delay the release any further—it should have been released earlier,” he said. Speaking about the success of re-released films, he remarked, “Those films have massive fan bases. Their re-releases feel like a reunion, where audiences relive memories from the past.”
When asked about actors calling the shots in the industry, Kiran clarified, “I don’t know about others, but for me, I like to be involved wherever necessary. Since my name is associated with the film, I feel responsible. However, the producer oversees everything and I respect that because it’s thanks to producers that I’ve come this far.” His experience in the industry has sharpened his judgment. “Now, I can assess a director’s narration. Some narrate well, but execution is key. My upcoming films will reflect this understanding, ensuring a minimum guarantee of quality,” he stated.
Discussing Telugu cinema’s reception in other industries, Kiran pointed out a disparity. “When a hit film from another language gets dubbed in Telugu, our audience eagerly watches it. But when Telugu films are dubbed in Malayalam or Tamil, they don’t receive the same enthusiasm,” he observed. Despite this, he admitted to casting Tamil and Malayalam actors in some of his films. “I’m not a big star, so I included actors from other industries to gain visibility there. However, if you look at my films, I have introduced nearly 40 people, including technicians and artists,” he added.
Director Vishwa Karun, a fan of Puri Jagannadh, has incorporated elements of Puri’s style into Dilruba. “Some dialogues and scenes reflect his influence,” Kiran revealed. He also teased the depth of his character, Sidhu, saying, “Sidhu’s beliefs and dialogues will make the audience think. Why doesn’t he say sorry or thank you? What happened in his family’s past? These intriguing aspects drive the story.”
Looking ahead, Kiran plans to release two films this year and increase his output to three films annually from next year. “After Dilruba, I have a K-ramp movie coming up immediately,” he confirmed, revealing that he has already signed four more projects. He admitted to taking on some films in the past out of obligation. “I don’t regret those mistakes, but moving forward, I will be more selective. After KA, the audience sees me differently—they recognize my genuine effort to make quality films,” he said.
On a personal note, Kiran shared exciting news about his family. He and his wife are expecting their first child in May. When asked if he was hoping for a boy or a girl, he smiled and said, “I want it to be a surprise.”
