Reports suggest that many crucial scenes in big-star films are being shot without the lead actors present on set.
Traditionally, heroes appear in nearly every frame, and scenes without them are rare. However, this trend of filming without the hero is becoming more common.
For example, the movie Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi and starring Prabhas, has reportedly shot several scenes without the hero.
Similarly, Pawan Kalyan’s Hari Hara Veeramallu and OG are following the same approach, sparking speculation about the reasons behind it.
One explanation could be the increasing use of VFX and body doubles.
Due to the heroes' busy schedules and limited availability, filmmakers might shoot long shots using body doubles and later film the hero's close-up shots separately.
This method helps accommodate the actors' tight schedules and reduces their workload, which many stars appreciate as it makes their involvement less taxing.
Once films like Raja Saab, OG, and Hari Hara Veeramallu are released, we’ll better understand the impact of this trend—whether it proves to be beneficial or detrimental to the final product.