Kalyan Shankar, the director who scored a major success with MAD, appears to be heading in a direction similar to Jathi Ratnalu filmmaker Anudeep KV.
While both directors have a natural flair for comedy and entertainment, their increasing focus on acting, talk shows and comic appearances raises questions about whether they are losing sight of filmmaking.
Anudeep has increasingly become a familiar face on talk shows and comedy platforms, while also taking up cameo roles in films.
His quirky personality has made him popular beyond his movies, but the concern is whether such distractions could affect his focus on writing and directing strong scripts.
His directorial follow-up to Jathi Ratnalu, Funky, failed to make an impact, with some attributing its poor performance to a lack of focus caused by his growing involvement in skits, appearances and acting assignments.
Kalyan Shankar too seems to be exploring acting after the success of MAD. He was recently seen in Epic, playing a friend of Anand Deverakonda.
There is nothing wrong with a director trying acting, but the bigger question is whether he can genuinely establish himself as a comedian and performer.
If Kalyan is confident about building a career in acting, he can certainly pursue it. However, direction and filmmaking remain his strongest areas.
After delivering a hit with MAD, shifting too much attention towards acting could prove risky. Staying focused on his core strength as a filmmaker may be the wiser choice at this stage.
