1996–1997: Early work Kalyan made his acting debut in 1996 with
Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi directed by
E. V. V. Satyanarayana. It was produced by
Allu Aravind under Geeta Arts Banner, and co-starred Supriya Yarlagadda, granddaughter of
Akkineni Nageswara Rao. The film employed a unique marketing campaign prior to its release. Initially, posters featuring Kalyan were released with the question, "Who is this guy?". Later, before the film's release, posters declaring "This is our Kalyan" further heightened audience interest. Released in October 1996, the film was a moderate success at the box-office. His second film
Gokulamlo Seeta (1997)
, a drama film released the following year. It was directed by
Muthyala Subbaiah and starred Kalyan alongside
Raasi and
Harish. In the film, Kalyan plays a spoiled rich youth who transforms his reckless ways and fights against societal and familial opposition to win his love.
Gokulamlo Seeta was the first film where Kalyan was credited as 'Pawan Kalyan' after he was awarded the title "Pawan" in March 1997. It was a commercial success. Kalyan's third film was
Suswagatham (1998) directed by
Bhimaneni Srinivasa Rao and produced by
R. B. Choudary under the
Super Good Films banner. It starred Kalyan and
Devayani (in her
Telugu debut), with music composed by
S. A. Rajkumar. In the film, Kalyan played a young man who loses everything due to his blind love for a girl. His performance in the film was critically acclaimed.
Suswagatham sowed the seeds for Kalyan's rise to stardom. The film became a super hit at the box office. The film was a major hit, launching Kalyan into stardom and becoming a classic romantic film in Telugu cinema. It won the
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, six state
Nandi Awards, and was featured at the
30th International Film Festival of India. The film was remade in Kannada as
Preethsu Thappenilla (2000) and in Hindi as
Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai (2001). In November 1998, there were reports of Kalyan collaborating with Malayalam director
Fazil for a project to be produced by
G. V. G. Raju, who had earlier produced
Tholi Prema. However, his next film turned out to be
Thammudu, where he played the role of a
kickboxer. Released in July 1999,
Thammudu was written and directed by
P. A. Arun Prasad. The film collected a distributor share of ₹9.25–9.46 crore, emerging as a blockbuster and generating a profit of over ₹4 crores for buyers. It became the second-highest-grossing film in the
Nizam region after
Choodalani Vundi (1998). Next, Kalyan acted in
Puri Jagannadh's first directorial venture,
Badri (2000). It starred debutants
Ameesha Patel and
Renu Desai (whom he would later marry). It was produced by
T. Trivikrama Rao and the music was composed by
Ramana Gogula. The film became a blockbuster at the box office.
Badri played a crucial role in expanding Pawan Kalyan's appeal from class audiences, who admired his earlier hits to a broader mass audience. The intense scenes between Pawan Kalyan and Prakash Raj remain a significant highlight in Pawan's career.
Badri was later remade in
Hindi as
Shart: The Challenge (2004). Kalyan's next film was
Kushi (2001) co-starring
Bhumika. It was directed by
S. J. Surya and produced by
A. M. Rathnam.
Mani Sharma provided the score and soundtrack. Kalyan also
choreographed all the action sequences in the film. Initially begun in 1999 as a bilingual along with its Tamil version, also titled
Kushi (2000), the Telugu version was delayed due to Kalyan's prior commitment to
Badri. It was a blockbuster at the box office and went on to become the
highest-grossing Telugu film ever at the time. The film was critically acclaimed for its screenplay, music, cinematography and especially the performance of Pawan Kalyan.
Kushi was the culmination of a streak of six consecutive hits for Pawan Kalyan and his style, mannerisms and dialogues from the film were much imitated by the youth.
2002–2007: Directorial debut and career fluctuations Kalyan's next film was
Johnny (2003), which he wrote, directed, and starred in alongside
Renu Desai. Produced by Allu Aravind with music by Ramana Gogula, the
martial arts film featured Kalyan as a coach who fights to fund his wife's cancer treatment.
Johnny had the highest theatrical distribution rights of 21
crore for a
Telugu film at the time and was released with over 250 prints worldwide. Kalyan's clean-shaven look was a departure from his usual style which disappointed many fans. Despite being Pawan Kalyan's first flop after six consecutive hits, the film was praised for its stylish and grounded
action choreography. Kalyan's styling from the film became a trend, with
Johnny T-shirts,
bandanas,
armbands, and caps becoming very popular. It was also screened at the
International Film Festival of India. Kalyan played the
title role, wrote the screenplay and choreographed three songs. The action scenes were also conceived and choreographed by him. The film, starring Kalyan and
Meera Jasmine, received mixed reviews and was an average performer at the box office. Kalyan's choreography of the realistic action scenes was praised. His unique style, including wearing double pants, grabbed attention at the time. It co-starred
Shriya,
Neha Oberoi and
Gulshan Grover.
Balu was extensively filmed in
Delhi and
Agra, with a special set constructed near the
Taj Mahal and another in
Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, at a cost of 90
lakh. Pawan Kalyan wore a unique pant in the film's flashback scenes, which he bought from
Italy for about 2 lakh. These pants later became a trend among the youth. In May 2006,
Bangaram, directed by Tamil filmmaker
Dharani was released. It starred Kalyan in the title role and
Meera Chopra,
Sanusha,
Ashutosh Rana, and
Mukesh Rishi in supporting roles. Produced by
A. M. Rathnam, who had earlier produced
Kushi (2001), the story follows Bangaram, a reporter who dreams of working for the
BBC. Notably, it was the first time in Kalyan's career that he did not have a female lead opposite him. The film received mixed to negative reviews, and Kalyan reportedly gave refunds to the film's distributors due to its underperformance. In March 2006, Pawan Kalyan’s second directorial venture,
Satyagrahi (
tagline: Satyame Naa Ayudham; ), featuring him in the role of a role of student union leader, was launched with a high-profile event at
Annapurna Studios. At the event, Kalyan expressed frustration with societal problems and aimed to use
Satyagrahi to highlight these issues in a commercially appealing format. Producer A. M. Rathnam announced that the film would be made in Telugu and Hindi, with a Bengali dub. Later that year, he appeared in
Annavaram, directed by Bhimaneni Srinivasa Rao, with
Asin, and
Sandhya were cast alongside him. The film was produced under the
Super Good Films banner and marked Kalyan's first role set in a rural background. Pawan Kalyan plays the title role of Annavaram, a
blacksmith who, driven by his love for his sister, becomes a vigilante in Hyderabad to dismantle the city's criminal underworld.
2008–2011: Continued career Kalyan's next film was
Jalsa (2008), written and directed by
Trivikram Srinivas.
Jalsa marks the first collaboration between Pawan Kalyan and Trivikram, a partnership that later extended to multiple projects in the future.
Mahesh Babu provided the
voiceover for the film. In the film, Pawan Kalyan plays Sanjay Sahu, an
aerobics instructor with a troubled past as a
Naxalite. Kalyan's performance, especially his comic timing and signature dialogues, played a significant role in the film's success. and was praised for its lead performances, music, humour, and witty dialogues. Initially titled
Komaram Puli, the film was renamed
Puli on its second day of release due to objections from Komaram Sony Rao, the grandson of tribal legend
Komaram Bheem, whose name had inspired the original title. The
Nizam distribution rights were sold to Geetha Arts for 12 crore, a record-breaking sum at the time. Upon release,
Puli was critically panned and ultimately became a
box office disaster. In August 2010, an official announcement was made that Kalyan was going to play a role in a movie about
Jesus Christ to be directed by
Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. With a production cost of $30 million, it was touted as the most expensive film to be ever made in
Indian cinema. The film was set to be shot in
Israel and the
Palestinian Territories with an all-Indian cast, primarily featuring children. It was reported that the producers spent time touring sites in
Jerusalem and around the
Sea of Galilee and have approached the Palestinian Authority about filming in
Jericho and
Bethlehem. It is a remake of the Hindi film
Love Aaj Kal (2009). Kalyan plays dual roles: Michael Velayudham, a carefree
chef in
Italy navigating modern relationships, and Arjun Palwai, whose traditional 1980s love story profoundly influences Michael's journey toward understanding the true value of love and commitment. The film was an average grosser at the box office. Apart from Kalyan, it starred
Sarah-Jane Dias,
Anjali Lavania, and
Jackie Shroff. Kalyan showcased a new look for
Panjaa, combining a well-trimmed beard with his moustache. Kalyan played Venkataratnam Naidu, a police officer who takes on the alias
Gabbar Singh to combat a local thug's corrupt political schemes.
Gabbar Singh set new records for opening day, first weekend, and first week collections in Tollywood, grossing around ₹110 crore worldwide. Kalyan's performance was acclaimed for its charisma and energy, blending mass appeal with comedy, earning him the
Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu, the
SIIMA Award for Best Actor – Telugu, a
CineMAA Award, among other accolades. Later in 2012, Kalyan appeared in
Cameraman Gangatho Rambabu, a
political action film directed by
Puri Jagannadh. Kalyan played Rambabu, a mechanic-turned-journalist who battles a corrupt politician. In September 2013, Pawan Kalyan starred in
Attarintiki Daredi, directed by Trivikram Srinivas. He played Gautham Nanda, a wealthy heir who disguises himself as a driver to reunite his grandfather with his estranged daughter. Despite significant
piracy issues before its release, the film became the
highest-grossing Telugu film of the time, surpassing
Magadheera (2009). It won four
Nandi Awards and four
Filmfare Awards South. Kalyan's performance earned him the
Santosham Best Actor Award, with nominations for both a
Filmfare Award and a
SIIMA Award. It was remade into
Kannada as
Ranna (2015), in
Bengali as
Abhimaan (2016), and in
Tamil as
Vantha Rajavathaan Varuven (2019).
2014–present: Balancing acting with political career In March 2014, Kalyan founded the
Janasena Party and actively campaigned in the 2014 elections. Thereafter, he continued his political career alongside his film career. His first film release after starting Janasena was
Gopala Gopala (2015), a Telugu remake of the Hindi film
OMG – Oh My God! (2012). The film featured Kalyan starring alongside
Venkatesh and was directed by
Kishore Kumar Pardasani. It was produced by
D. Suresh Babu and Sharrath Marar. Made on a budget of 12
crore, the film was released in January 2015 as a
Sankranthi release. In the film, Pawan Kalyan plays
Lord Krishna in disguise as a common man, Govinda Gopala Hari, to help a devout atheist challenge fraudulent
godmen and promote a true understanding of God. It received positive reviews from critics and was commercially successful grossing 88.1 crore with a
distributor share of 41.1 crore. In 2016, Kalyan starred in
Sardaar Gabbar Singh. It was co-written and directed by
K. S. Ravindra, based on an original story by Kalyan himself. It was a sequel to his 2012 film
Gabbar Singh. The film was released worldwide in April 2016, along with a
Hindi dubbed version, on a screen count of 3,200 thus becoming the second biggest Telugu film release after
Baahubali: The Beginning (2015). It received mixed reviews from critics.
Katamarayudu (2017), a remake of Tamil film
Veeram (2014) marked Kalyan's second collaboration with Kishore Kumar Pardasani. In the film, Pawan Kalyan plays Katamarayudu, a selfless man who prioritizes his brothers' well-being over his own and eventually wins the approval of his love interest's father by proving his bravery and commitment. The film received mixed reviews, with the music being widely criticized as a major letdown and one of the weakest albums in Pawan Kalyan's career. The film stars Kalyan,
Aadhi Pinisetty,
Keerthy Suresh and
Anu Emmanuel in lead roles. In the film, Kalyan plays Abhishikth Bhargav, the eldest son of a powerful businessman who returns to his family’s company from exile to uncover the truth behind his father's death and reclaim his rightful place in the business empire. Upon release, it received negative reviews from both critics and audiences, alike. The film was a
box-office bomb. In August 2017, Pawan Kalyan announced his intention to focus on politics starting October 2017 after completing his film commitments. In November 2019, it was announced that Kalyan would star in the Telugu remake of the Hindi film
Pink (2016), later titled
Vakeel Saab. Produced by
Boney Kapoor and Dil Raju, and directed by
Venu Sriram with dialogues by Trivikram Srinivas, filming for
Vakeel Saab began on 20 January 2020, marking Kalyan's return to cinema after a two-year break following
Agnyaathavaasi. In 2022, Pawan Kalyan starred in
Bheemla Nayak, an
action thriller film directed by
Saagar K Chandra and written by Trivikram Srinivas. The film stars Pawan Kalyan and
Rana Daggubati in lead roles. Kalyan plays Bheemla Nayak, a dedicated police officer known for his strong sense of justice and connection with his community. The film netted 37
crore on opening day in India, becoming the best post-pandemic opener in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Bheemla Nayak grossed over ₹192 crore worldwide in 20 days. Kalyan's 2023 release was
Bro, in which he starred alongside his nephew
Sai Dharam Tej, under the direction of
Samuthirakani. Produced by People Media Factory and
Zee Studios, it is a remake of the director's own Tamil film
Vinodhaya Sitham (2021). In the film, Pawan Kalyan plays Titan, a mysterious figure who represents Time, guiding Mark through a transformative journey to rectify his past and reconcile with his responsibilities before his final departure from Earth. The film received mixed-to-average reviews from critics. Another film,
They Call Him OG, was subsequently announced with
Sujeeth as the director and
D. V. V. Danayya as producer. It is a
gangster film and stars Kalyan,
Emraan Hashmi (in his Telugu debut), and
Priyanka Mohan in lead roles. The film was officially announced in December 2022 and
principal photography commenced in April 2023 in
Mumbai.
OG was scheduled to release on 27 September 2024, but was postponed due to production delays, eventually releasing on 25 September 2025.
Upcoming projects Mythri Movie Makers also announced
Ustaad Bhagat Singh with Kalyan, under the direction of
Harish Shankar. The film was announced as
Bhavadeeyudu Bhagat Singh on 9 September 2021. It marks the second collaboration of Pawan Kalyan with Harish Shankar after
Gabbar Singh. Later in December 2022, the title was changed to
Ustaad Bhagat Singh. The film's launch event with a
pooja ceremony was held on 11 December 2022 at
Ramanaidu Studios with cast and crew. == Political career ==