Allu Arjun On His Sari Look In Pushpa 2: ‘The Most Alpha Thing I’ve Ever Done’

Allu Arjun has reflected on one of the most distinctive choices of his career — portraying a woman in a saree for the Gangamma Jathara sequence in the Pushpa franchise.

In a recent conversation with Forbes India, the actor described the decision as an unexpected but powerful move for a male star. “I would say the most alpha thing I’ve ever done is to play a woman,” he said.

The actor features on the cover of Forbes India’s Showstoppers 2026, which celebrates 100 of India’s biggest names from entertainment and sport. The list includes stars such as Virat Kohli, Shah Rukh Khan and Ranveer Singh, with Allu Arjun among the prominent figures from Indian cinema.

ALLU ARJUN ON THE SUCCESS OF PUSHPA

The Pushpa franchise significantly expanded Allu Arjun’s reach beyond Telugu-speaking audiences. The first film, Pushpa: The Rise, introduced viewers across India to Pushpa Raj, while Pushpa 2: The Rule further established the character as one of the most recognisable figures in contemporary Indian cinema.

Reflecting on the franchise’s impact, Allu Arjun said its success motivated him to think beyond conventional boundaries.

“Pushpa’s success has inspired me to take Indian cinema to another level,” he said.

For the actor, however, the foundation of any successful film remains simple.

“Deliver a great film. The rest will take care of itself,” he said.

WHY ALLU ARJUN WORE A SAREE IN PUSHPA 2

Allu Arjun’s saree-clad appearance became one of the most discussed elements of Pushpa 2: The Rule. The look was part of the Gangamma Jathara sequence, which draws from a traditional festival associated with Gangamma Thalli in the Tirupati region.

As part of the ritual, men traditionally dress as women. The film adapted the tradition for Pushpa’s character, with Allu Arjun appearing in a saree along with jewellery, makeup and blue body paint.

The sequence was not merely a visual experiment but also played an important role within the film’s narrative.

According to Allu Arjun, director Sukumar initially suggested the unconventional appearance after finding that a more typical macho portrayal was not working for the scene. Rather than avoiding the challenge, the actor committed fully to the transformation.

That decision eventually produced one of the franchise’s most striking images and allowed Allu Arjun to explore a side of Pushpa that audiences had not previously seen.

His description of the choice as the “most alpha thing” he has done also reflects his willingness to move away from conventional ideas of masculinity for a performance.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ALLU ARJUN

Allu Arjun is currently working on Raaka, a sci-fi action project directed by Atlee, with Deepika Padukone and Rashmika Mandanna also part of the cast.

He is also set to collaborate with Lokesh Kanagaraj on the tentatively titled AA23.

Meanwhile, the Pushpa franchise is expected to continue, with Pushpa 3: The Rampage currently in development.

For an actor whose popularity has grown from a regional Telugu star into a pan-India phenomenon, Allu Arjun’s latest comments underline the approach that has defined much of his recent success: taking risks, embracing unusual characters and allowing the performance to take priority over conventional expectations.