📌 Key Points
- Pawan Kalyan was offered endorsement deals rivaling Shah Rukh Khan’s after ‘Gabbar Singh’ success.
- Director Harish Shankar revealed Pawan Kalyan rejected lucrative ads due to ethical concerns about product suitability for children.
- Pawan Kalyan’s rare endorsements include a 2001 Pepsi ad; he’s recently resumed film promotions.
- Despite political commitments as Deputy CM, Pawan Kalyan intends to continue acting, viewing it as his income source.
Pawan Kalyan’s soaring popularity post ‘Gabbar Singh’ led to lucrative endorsement offers, comparable to Shah Rukh Khan’s. However, director Harish Shankar revealed Kalyan declined these deals due to concerns about promoting unhealthy products, particularly to children.
Pawan Kalyan’s Rise and Lucrative Offers
At an event for Ustaad Bhagat Singh, Harish Shankar spoke about how Pawan Kalyan turned down money at the height of stardom.
Actor Pawan Kalyan might have first tasted fame in the 90s, but his stardom grew exponentially after the release of Gabbar Singh in 2012. Directed by Harish Shankar, the film was an adaptation of Salman Khan’s 2010 hit Dabangg and was a massive success. Pawan became so famous that the director revealed he even began scoring endorsements that would pay him as much as Shah Rukh Khan. However, he turned them down for a reason.
Ethical Reasons for Rejecting Endorsements
The director also revealed that Pawan turned down these opportunities for a reason, stating, “But, he’s of the opinion some of these products he was asked to endorse aren’t healthy or good for kids. I was supposed to direct these ads, but I saw him reject ads worth crores. I am not saying anybody’s wrong for doing it, I’m just giving an example of how he is as a person.”
For the unversed, Pawan has rarely endorsed products, with his most famous ad being the 2001 Pepsi spot. He was also not part of the film promotions for Hari Hara Veera Mallu and They Call Him OG until recently. According to Forbes India , Shah Rukh earned ₹ 202.833 crore in 2012 and was at the top of the celebrity 100 list. The Bollywood star is also known as one of the highest-paid actors in endorsements.
Balancing Politics and Acting Career
He also has a pending film with Agent director Surender Reddy, which has now been revived. Cast and crew details for the yet-to-be-titled PSPK32 have not been announced. The film is expected to hit screens only in 2027.
Pawan has yet to announce any other upcoming films. However, he has stated numerous times since becoming the Deputy CM that he plans to juggle politics with acting, describing the latter as his source of income.
Pawan Kalyan’s choices reflect a commitment to his values, even when faced with substantial financial incentives. His dedication to both his political role and acting career presents a unique path forward.
