Regional stars who are all set to dominate the box office in 2023

The past few years have seen the emergence of pan-Indian stars from regional industries and in 2023, they are all set to broaden their reach with eagerly-awaited releases. Here is our pick of some names that are expected to set the box-office ablaze this year:

Prithviraj Sukumaran

Hindi film audiences were first introduced to the talent thatPrithviraj Sukumaran is through Aiyyaa which released in the year2012. He was later seen in 2013 film Aurangzeb and in 2017 flick Naam Shabanabut it is with the rising consumption of regional content that he became a household name. His company Prithviraj Productions has been spearheading hit films like 9 in 2019and his directorial debut Luciferin the same year. Luciferbecame the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever and also won over the OTT audience. Jana Gana Mana in 2022 became another big success butit was with Kaapa, a crime drama produced by Saregama India Ltd., that he truly became a pan-Indian force. In 2023, he will be seen in the Telugu action-thriller, ‘Salaar’ opposite Prabhas and also in a Hindi feature film Bade Miya Chote Miyawith Akshay Kumar.

Asif Ali

When the Malayalam film'Kuttavum Shikshayum' became a hit on a streaming platform in 2021, audiences all over the country sat up to take notice of this subtle yet powerful actor. Since his well-received debut in 2009 with the film Ritu, actor Asif Ali has walked the fine line between commercial hits and critically-acclaimed cinema like the 2012 period drama, Ozhimuri. In 2023, fans are awaiting the release of his film Kasargold, which promises to be another simmering crime caper by Yoodlee Films.

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Allu Arjun

The year 2021 saw the ascent of Telugu superstar Allu Arjun on the national stage when Pushpa – The Risebroke records and emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of the year. It also rankedamong the highest-grossing Telugu films of all time. With his trajectory, he has decisively emerged from the shadows of his producer father, Allu Aravind and his uncle, superstar Chiranjeevi. This year, Allu Arjunwill be seen in the eagerly awaitedsequel, Pushpa – The Rule' in which he will staropposite Rashmika Mandanna.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu

In 2021, when Samantha Ruth Prabhu starred in the second season ofPrime Video's Hindi spy thriller The Family Man'as the fiery antagonist Raji, a rebel leader from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, India sat up and took notice. With regional hits like her debut Ye Maaya Chesave, Eega, Kaththi, Dookudu, Mersal, Majili, and the critically acclaimed,Super Deluxe --Samantha is now a nationally recognised talent whose cameo in Pushpa – The Risesent the audiences in a frenzy. This year, she will headline the lavishperiod drama, Shaakuntalamin the title role.

TamannaahBhatia

Her first few Hindi films likeChand Sa Roshan Chehraand Himmatwalamay not have worked but with the Baahubali franchise, Tamannaah became a star to watch out for. Her martial art skills, screen presence and undeniable talent made her stand out even in these two largely testosterone-driven blockbusters dominated by Prabhas and Rana Daggubati. After working extensivelyin the regional space with superstars like Surya in Ayan, Ajith Kumar in Veeram and Vikram in Sketch, Tamanna is now set to welcome 2023 with Bhola Shankar,a remake of the Tamil movie, Vedalam,with Chiranjeevi and Keerthi Suresh.