The bearded problem

For five years, Telugu star Allu Arjun devoted himself to director Sukumar’s Pushpa series (1 and 2). Now, as he nears the finish line of Pushpa 2: The Rule, the actor admits to feeling impatient to wrap it all up. At an event promoting the sequel, Arjun revealed the major reason behind his impatience. “I was waiting for this film to get over so that I could get a clean shave. My daughter doesn’t come to me because I can’t kiss her because I have a beard; I haven’t kissed her properly in the last three to four years,” he shared, evoking laughter and sympathy from the mediapersons.  When the shoot ended, Arjun felt unexpectedly overwhelmed. “I had been waiting to get my beard off, but Rashmika [Mandanna] finished one day before and was tearing up because, in the five years, the set had become like home. The next day, when I finished my shoot, I went quiet; it got very heavy for me.” Reflecting on the emotional journey, Arjun said, “I had the [same] feeling when the first part became a major hit, and I [felt], I was raising the name of the Telugu industry. The second time, I realised Pushpa is not about [anyone]; it belongs to the bouncers, unit [members], and everybody. So, for all of them who have invested five years into this film, I want it to be a hit and make it meaningful for them. Hence, I got emotional on the last day of the shoot.”

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