65-year-old Balakrishna takes a dig at heroes using green screen instead of coming to set: ‘I'm original, not duplicate’

On the sidelines of IFFI Goa 2025, Nandamuri Balakrishna spoke to the press and mentioned how heroes these days don't come to the set, unlike him.

Updated on: Nov 22, 2025, 18:01:31 IST

By Neeshita Nyayapati

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Actor Nandamuri Balakrishna turned 65 this year in June. The actor, who also marked 50 years in the film industry last year, spoke to the press on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, where he was honoured for his career achievements. He took a dig at actors who shoot in front of green screens instead of coming to the set and said this.

Balakrishna turned 65 this year and has been working for 50 years in the film industry.

Balakrishna takes a dig at actors shooting with green screen

Balakrishna called out the ‘technical domination’ in filmmakers while reflecting on his 50 years in the film industry. According to ANI, he said, “I have completed 50 years in the film industry. Why? It's not that I am the son of NTR; that's why I am continuing. It is the knowledge I have about movies, and it's the legacy I am taking. For what it is, I take pride in it. Only nowadays, filmmaking is totally technique-dominated.”

Calling himself an ‘original’ as compared to actors who rely on technology to do their job, he said, “My movies are larger than life. So my stories are important to me, and we do use (technology) when needed. Nowadays, they are using it for everything. The heroes also don't come into the sets. They just shoot before the green mat or the blue mat. And I am original. I am not a duplicate.”

Balakrishna’s career

Balakrishna debuted in the 1974 film Tatamma Kala. His first film as a lead was the 1984 film Sahasame Jeevitham. The actor has been on a success streak lately, delivering back-to-back hits with films like Akhanda (2021), Veera Simha Reddy (2023), Bhagavanth Kesari (2023), and Daaku Maharaaj (2025). His next film, directed by Boyapati Srinu, is a sequel to Akhanda. Co-starring Samyuktha and Harshaali Malhotra, the film will be released in theatres on December 5. He also plays an important role in Nelson Dilipkumar’s Rajinikanth-starrer Jailer 2.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeshita Nyayapati
Despite having a Master's degree in Journalism and over a decade of experience in print and digital media as a field reporter and sub-editor at organisations such as The Times of India and Reader's Digest, Neeshita Nyayapati remains a movie buff first and a Chief Content Producer second. She fell in love with movies in childhood and believes nothing matches the magic of watching a good film that moves you with a warm tub of popcorn in hand. Her love for writing about cinema follows that. Come Friday, you'll find her at her happy place, the movies, catching the latest rom-com or masala offering, for reviews or otherwise. As for the rest of the week, she's here reporting the juiciest news in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi or bringing out the best of celebs in interviews. While her niche is Telugu cinema, Neeshita likes to dabble in a little bit of everything to stay up to date. From film announcements to scandals and hard news angles, she has explored it all. A good book, a comforting cup of hot chocolate, puppy kisses and a stunning beach view are all she needs to unwind. Her passion for biking and travelling has taken her to various places across the country. She has found peace in everything from the frozen lakes of Gangtok to the coffee plantations of Coorg and the dense forests of Bandipur, to the monasteries of Darjeeling. But no matter where she goes, Neeshita loves coming across inspiring and moving stories.Read More

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