Despite star power and talent, leading actresses in Telugu cinema continue to struggle at the box office with female-centric films. The latest example is Samantha’s production Subham, which failed to make an impact despite her special appearance in a quirky role. The lukewarm response highlights a persistent trend — Telugu audiences are still reluctant to embrace films led solely by women.Tamannaah’s debut female-centric film Odela 2 met a similar fate, collecting just ₹1.4 crore in two days. She joins a growing list of top actresses like Kajal Aggarwal, Anjali, and Keerthy Suresh, whose solo-led ventures have underwhelmed.“Telugu audiences are still somewhat male chauvinistic when it comes to cinema,” admits producer Lagadapati Sridhar. “They rarely support films with female leads, preferring male heroes in dominant, superhero-like roles. It’s unfortunate, but it reflects the reality of the industry.”According to Sridhar, successful women-oriented films in Tollywood have always been rare. While stars like Anushka Shetty and Samantha have had occasional hits in such roles, most actresses eventually return to playing love interests alongside leading men. “There’s a clear pattern — audiences want glamorous heroines as lovers or wives to their favorite heroes. But when these same actresses try to take the lead, the interest dwindles,” he explains.This deep-rooted disparity has made it risky for actresses to take on substantial, author-backed roles. Yet, change may be on the horizon. All eyes are now on Rashmika Mandanna, who is taking on her first female-led role in The Girlfriend after a series of high-profile roles opposite stars like Allu Arjun and Ranbir Kapoor.“I hope Rashmika breaks the jinx,” says Sridhar. “Much like Shraddha Kapoor did in Bollywood with Stree 2, she could help redefine audience expectations and open doors for more women-led stories in Telugu cinema.”
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