Brahmanandam reveals why he stayed away from Bollywood: ‘Comedy depends on diction, timing and nuance, Hindi is not my mother tongue’

Telugu cinema’s beloved comedian Brahmanandam, who has entertained generations with his impeccable comic timing, opened up about his career choices while unveiling his autobiography Me in English and Hindi at the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) of South Asia, Delhi.

The book, published in six languages, was launched by former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu.Naidu praised Brahmanandam as the “comedy king” of Indian cinema, recalling his record-breaking feat of acting in more than a thousand films and entering the Guinness Book of World Records as the comedian with the highest number of screen appearances.

Why Bollywood was never an option

During the press interaction, Brahmanandam reflected on his modest beginnings and the challenges he overcame on his way to becoming one of Telugu cinema’s most celebrated figures.

He described his autobiography as not just a memoir, but a message of hope and perseverance for readers across India. “My story is proof that if you work hard, you can reach great heights,” he said.It was here that the actor addressed a question often asked of him—why he never seriously pursued Bollywood despite his pan-India fame. Brahmanandam admitted that language was his biggest limitation. “Comedy depends on timing, diction, and nuance.

Since Hindi is not my mother tongue, I felt I would not be able to deliver the same impact in Bollywood,” he explained.

Still a nationwide favourite

He added that North Indian audiences have nevertheless enjoyed his work through dubbed versions of his Telugu films, which continue to gain massive popularity. “Even without being part of Bollywood, my performances have connected with audiences across the country,” he said. Recently, the legendary actor was also honoured with the Global Comedian Award in Dubai, further underlining his universal appeal.