Allu Arjun On How ‘Pushpa’ Took Him From Regional Actor To National Icon At WAVES 2025

May 2, 2025: Pan-India star Allu Arjun, fresh off the record-shattering success of Pushpa 2: The Rule, captivated audiences at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 on Thursday with an inspiring session on stardom, fitness, and transformation.

Speaking at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, Arjun expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Government of India for hosting the summit, which he hailed as a significant initiative for the entertainment industry. His session struck a balance between personal insight and professional wisdom, offering a rare glimpse into the mindset of one of India’s most versatile actors.

Reflecting on his journey, the Pushpa star acknowledged how the franchise changed his life:
“At least everybody knows my face now. I was a regional actor, known in Telugu cinema and parts of the South. But now, thanks to Pushpa and the love of the Indian audience, I’m more familiar to people everywhere.”

Pushpa 2, directed by Sukumar and co-starring Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil, was released in December 2024 and went on to create history at the box office. The film built on the massive success of Pushpa: The Rise, which earned Allu Arjun the National Award for Best Actor.

One of the major talking points during the session was Arjun’s long-standing dedication to fitness, which he said is inseparable from being an Indian film actor.
“You don’t know what your schedule will start with — it could be a fight or a dance sequence. You have to be physically prepared. Fitness isn’t just aesthetic, it’s a mindset,” he said.

He also recalled an early challenge that sparked his transformation:
“About 20 years ago, someone told me that South actors can’t get six-packs. Even an actress I worked with said it. I took it as a challenge and did it — not just for myself, but for my people.”

Arjun shared a deeply personal moment about suffering a shoulder injury after his tenth film.
“I was known for my agility. When I tore my rotator cuff, it was a huge blow. I was told I needed six months off. That scared me because I realized physical agility fades with time. That’s when I started focusing more on performance than just physicality,” he said.

Touching on his versatility, Arjun said he strives to break patterns in every film:
“Every movie should bring something new. In such a competitive space, originality is key. Versatility, I believe, is a by-product of the pursuit to offer something different every time.”

The actor’s honest account of balancing fame, injuries, and personal growth resonated with the diverse audience of creators and professionals at WAVES 2025.

The summit, themed “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries”, is a landmark effort to position India as a global leader in media, entertainment, and digital innovation. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, WAVES 2025 features over 90 countries, 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, and hundreds of companies and startups across film, AVGC-XR, digital media, and more.

As Allu Arjun continues to evolve from a regional icon to a global name, his story — like Pushpa — is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and relentless ambition.