Prabhas has claimed the top spot as the 'Most Popular Male Film Star in India' for July 2024, according to Ormax Media's latest report, surpassing industry heavyweights like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.
The accolade comes on the heels of the success of his latest film, Kalki 2898 AD, which also stars Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan. The film, released in late June, has received widespread acclaim, further cementing Prabhas' position as a leading star in Indian cinema.
The report ranked Prabhas and Vijay as the most popular male film stars, followed by Shah Rukh Khan and Mahesh Babu. Other notable names in the top ten include Jr NTR, Akshay Kumar, Allu Arjun, Salman Khan, Ram Charan, and Ajith Kumar.
Prabhas' rise to the top spot is particularly noteworthy in light of the recent controversy involving Arshad Warsi's comments on his role in Kalki 2898 AD.
Kalki 2898 AD made a strong impact at the box office, with its Hindi version alone collecting Rs 112.15 crore in its opening weekend and finishing with a lifetime collection of Rs 294.25 crore. The film has continued to attract attention, especially after its release on Netflix and Prime Video in multiple languages.
However, it recently became a talking point again after Arshad Warsi's critique of Prabhas' performance went viral. Warsi, known for his candid opinions, called Prabhas’ look in the film "joker-like" and suggested he should have resembled Mel Gibson. This comment sparked a wave of backlash, with many fans and industry figures coming to Prabhas' defense.
During a press conference for his latest film, Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, actor Nani dismissed Warsi’s comments as unimportant. Sudheer Babu also criticized Warsi, labeling his remarks as unprofessional. Director Ajay Bhupathi joined the chorus, praising Prabhas for his contributions to Indian cinema and accusing Warsi of jealousy.
The controversy, however, hasn't overshadowed Prabhas' latest achievement as India's most popular male film star.
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