'Mixed' luck for Tamil heroes-turned-baddies

With the most-happening K-town star Vijay Sethupathi joining the bandwagon of Tamil heroes-turned-baddies with his antagonist role in Allu Arjun's next movie, it's time to look at the 'mixed' luck of his colleagues in Tollywood.

If Aadhi Pinnisetty and Arun Vijay are getting plum offers after 'Sarrainodu' and 'Saaho,' while Madhavan (Savyasachi), Arjun (Lie) and Prasanna (Jawan) had to bite the dust.

"Tamil heroes are taking up negative roles in Telugu cinema in a big way but only a few managed to stay afloat, while others sank without a trace," says director Srikanth Addala, who blames it on bad scripts and miscasting of actors.

"Madhavan was a famed lover boy on screen with films like 'Sakhi', while Arjun was known as Action King in Telugu cinema and audience couldn't digest them in dark roles. Honestly, it is difficult for heroes to convince audience in a negative role, only an actor like Arvind Swamy could justify the transition in 'Dhruva.

Even popular director-turned-actor S J Suryah failed to draw crowds with his menacing psycho killer act in 'Spyder," he reasons.

According to sources, these popular Tamil actors like Vijay Sethupathi, Arvind Swamy and Arjun pocket anywhere between Rs 1 to 3 crore per film besides making a career as villains.

"More Tamil stars will join the party since Telugu dream merchants are finding it hard to get young villains to take on new-age superstars like Mahesh Babu, Prabhas, Jr NTR , Ram Charan and Allu Arjun, so directors are looking towards Tamil films and rightly picking actors who have some standing in K-town," says director Ravi Babu.

Apparently, Vijay Sethupathi, who played a positive role in 'Sye Raa....' will be unleashing his evil side in Sukumar's movie as a red sanders smuggler.

"The character has to speak in Tamil and Telugu and story set in border of AP and Tamil Nadu. No doubt, Vijay Sethupathi will raise the bar on negative roles," says director Sudheer Varma.

Meanwhile, Aadhi Pinisetty portrayed positive roles in films like 'Ninnu Korri' and 'Rangasthalam' to make space for himself in Telugu movies.

"That is a good option, rather than sticking to roles with dark shade. Also it is better to expand than shrink," concludes producer C Kalyan.