Siddhu Jonnalagadda Banks on Telusu Kada After a Dud Like Jack

Young sensation Siddhu Jonnalagadda, who rose to fame with the DJ Tillu series, is now pinning high hopes on his new romantic comedy Telusu Kada after the disappointing performance of his last film Jack.

“Jack could not make decent openings and this raised doubts about Siddhu’s ability to draw crowds,” says a distributor who reportedly incurred a loss of ₹6 crore on the film. “Siddhu became an overnight star with DJ Tillu, which collected over ₹20 crore and Tillu Square grossed ₹45 crore in Telugu states. But Jack, in which he played a civilian tracking down terrorists without being a part of RAW, failed miserably,” he adds.

In a recent chat with actor Ravi Teja, Siddhu admitted that although Jack had a unique premise, it faltered in execution. Ravi Teja agrees: “It’s true that some stories look great on paper but fail to connect with the audience once they hit the screens. It’s always difficult to judge.”

Now Siddhu is investing heavily in Telusu Kada directed by Neeraja Kona. The film is said to be a light-hearted, romantic entertainer that appeals to a wide audience. “Romantic comedies are a safe bet for Telugu audiences and Telusu Kada has the potential to attract the masses,” notes a trade source.

Interestingly, Siddhu, who had earlier wowed his fans with his flamboyant avatar in DJ Tillu, toned down his on-screen persona for this film and portrayed a relatable boy-next-door character. The distributor concludes: “If his subdued image doesn’t resonate with audiences, he may veer back into quirky Tillu territory.”