I'd quit acting if I had steady income: Pawan Kalyan on balancing films, politics

Telugu superstar and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan spoke about the tough balance between his film career and political life. He said that even before joining films, his true passion was always public service and bringing social change.

Speaking about the balancing act in an exclusive conversation with Rajdeep Sardesai, consulting editor, India Today TV and anchor Akshita Nandgopal, Kalyan said, "For me, my priority and my heart will always lie with social transformational politics, even before I entered cinema. I've been a socially conscious person since childhood. Films came to me later. It's quite a tough job (managing both films and politics). The tough part is - you fight against your rivals, talk about public policy, and then suddenly go back to cinema and try to shake a leg or deliver dramatic lines. That’s where I really struggle."

He admitted that while



action sequences come naturally to him thanks to his martial arts background, other aspects of acting, like dance or melodrama, often feel awkward. "Sometimes I wonder whether I should have quit acting long ago. But my only financial source is cinema, so I think I have keep doing this," he explained.

"For me, politics is a way of national service to me. It's not otherwise, it's a service to society. If I had enough money, if I had a continuous stream of income, I don't think I would do films. Because more than films, my passion is for the public and politics," he added.

Pawan Kalyan will next be seen in the period action film 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu'. The movie was first directed by Krish Jagarlamudi, but due to some changes, Jyothi Krisna, son of producer AM Rathnam, has now taken over as director.

'Hari Hara Veera Mallu' is scheduled for release on July 24.