Anushka Shetty has revealed that she is ready to take on villain roles in films. The actress, fondly called “Sweety” by her fans, said she sometimes feels bored of repeating the same heroine roles and now wants to explore darker, more powerful characters on screen.
Known as one of Tollywood’s top heroines, Anushka has already achieved almost everything in commercial cinema. From strong women-led stories like Arundhati and Bhaagamathie to her royal presence in the Baahubali series, she has proved her acting range. Over the years, she has shared the screen with most of the industry’s leading men, except Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna and Pawan Kalyan.
Now, Anushka feels the time is right to reinvent herself. “I want to play roles that are different and challenging,” she admitted, while expressing her wish to appear as a villain. With her striking height, commanding screen presence and powerful looks, many believe she is perfectly suited for such characters.
Tollywood has often lacked strong female villains. The last iconic performance remembered by fans is Ramya Krishnan’s unforgettable Neelambari in Narasimha. Since then, a few actresses have tried negative roles, but they did not leave a lasting impact. Tamil actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar is one of the few who impressed audiences with her strong villain portrayals.
Industry watchers feel Anushka could take this trend further. If she succeeds in villain roles, it could mark a turning point in her career, opening doors not just in the South but also in Bollywood. A powerful performance as a villainess could make her busier than ever and give her career a fresh direction.
Fans are excited about this new chapter and are waiting to see which director will take the bold step of casting Anushka Shetty as a villain. If the experiment works, it may set a new trend for female actors in Telugu cinema.