In 'Pushpa: The Rise' and 'Pushpa: The Rule', the male lead Pushpa Raj is a smuggler. The moral and ethical issues of such a glorified thug have not been lost on many. When Allu Arjun was declared the Best Actor by the National Awards jury in 2022, many questioned the choice on moral grounds. "How can an actor who played a criminal onscreen be given a National Award?" many questioned.
On Thursday, addressing a presser in Bengaluru, actor-politician Pawan Kalyan indirectly took a swipe at the Sukumar-created character. "In the past, heroes were champions of the forest in movies. Now, those who exploit and plunder it are being idolized," the Jana Sena Party supremo said.
Allu Arjun's 'Pushpa: The Rule' is bearing up for theatrical release on December 6 this year. The second part shows Pushpa Raj as a Robinhood sort of a character. It is believed that Sukumar wants to redeem the character by turning him into a messiah. Will the attempt blunt the criticism coming alongside the lines of Pawan Kalyan's?
