Pawan Kalyan says Trivikram Srinivas helped him get back on his feet after a career flop: 'I call him a godsend'

Actor Pawan Kalyan recently opened up about his friendship with director Trivikram Srinivas and his appreciation for remakes. Speaking at the 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu Part-1' pre-release event in Hyderabad, Kalyan discussed his cinematic vision, artistic compromises, and a long-standing bond.

Pawan Kalyan shares how Trivikram Srinivas helped him to make a comeback

Kalyan recalled a challenging period in his career when he had suffered a major failure and felt adrift in the industry. He said that during that time, Trivikram Srinivas stepped in to support him—even though they barely knew each other. Trivikram offered friendship and collaboration during failure, which led to the making of their film Jalsa. "After one flop, I lost my footing in cinema. That’s when director Trivikram Srinivas came and stood by me.

I didn’t even know who he was at the time. People usually come to you when you taste success, but he came to me during failure. My friend stood by me and made 'Jalsa'. They say adversity reveals true character. That’s why I call Trivikram godsend, " he said.

Why Remakes Became a Necessity

In response to criticism regarding the high number of remakes in his filmography, Kalyan clarified that remakes were always a practical solution rather than his first choice.

He explained that original scripts require time and creative bandwidth, which he could not afford while balancing political duties and family life.He added that many producers believed they could generate quick profits by casting him in remakes, and that he often lacked support from top-tier directors for original content.

AM Rathnam Backed an Original, Rooted Story

Kalyan praised producer AM Rathnam for choosing to invest in 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu', a period action drama with an original and culturally rooted narrative.

He said Rathnam’s decision to support a non-remake project reflected courage and conviction, especially in an industry often driven by commercial shortcuts.

About the Film

Directed by Krish Jagarlamudi, 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu Part-1' stars Pawan Kalyan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Bobby Deol, Sathyaraj, and Nargis Fakhri. Produced by A. Dayakar Rao under Mega Surya Production and presented by AM Rathnam, the film is slated for release on July 24, 2025.