The Telugu film industry is witnessing a quiet but decisive shift, leading stars are steadily building income streams beyond acting, especially in the exhibition and allied businesses.
Today, stardom is no longer limited to box-office pull; it is increasingly about long-term financial vision.
Actors like Allu Arjun, Mahesh Babu and Ravi Teja have invested their brand power and capital into theatre ownership.
Allu Arjun’s AAA Cinemas at Ameerpet stands as a premium movie destination, while the upcoming Allu Mall at Kokapet reflects a larger ambition to combine entertainment and retail.
Mahesh Babu’s AMB Cinemas at Gachibowli has redefined the multiplex experience, with another theatre planned at RTC Cross Roads.
Ravi Teja’s ART Cinemas at Vanasthalipuram follows a similar path, focusing on strong local patronage.
Sundeep Kishen is making bigger fortune with his restaurant business "Vivaha Bhojanambu" than with his films.
Naga Chaitanya is running Shoyu, which offers gourmet pan-Asian cuisine, and Scuzi, a newer venture focusing on comfort food like pizza, pasta, and burgers.
These investments underline a key industry reality, relying solely on acting income is risky in the long run.
Producers have long understood this, building their own distribution networks and, in many cases, becoming exhibitors by leasing theatres.
A newer trend is the focus on interval businesses like popcorn, burgers, samosas and beverages which generate steady, high-margin income.
Sources suggest that even distributors are now competing with producers for control over these sales, arguing that their financial risk in films justifies a share in ancillary revenues.
Interestingly, despite earning hundreds of crores, many top stars have not ventured seriously into residential real estate branding.
Veterans like Murali Mohan and Sobhan Babu remain classic examples of how real estate can create generational wealth alongside cinema.
As cinema revenues fluctuate, smart investments that earn even during idle phases are becoming essential.
For today’s stars, success is no longer just about hard work on screen, but about strategic planning of it.