Pawan Kalyan in Trouble? Ex-IAS Officer Seeks Ban on AP Deputy CM’s Acting

Controversies surrounding the film Hari Hara Veera Mallu show no signs of abating. In the latest development, former IAS officer Vijay Kumar has filed a petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, seeking interim orders to bar Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan from acting in films, participating in entertainment programmes, producing or promoting movies, and appearing in advertisements.

The ex-bureaucrat alleged that Pawan Kalyan misused his office and diverted government funds for the making of Hari Hara Veera Mallu. He further urged the court to direct the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) to conduct an impartial probe into the matter.

He requested the High Court bench, comprising Dr Justice Venkata Jyotirmayi Pratapa, to issue notices to the CBI, ACB (Anti-Corruption Bureau), and Pawan Kalyan.

The petition comes as another setback for the actor-politician at a time when Hari Hara Veera Mallu has already turned out to be a colossal box-office disaster. Produced by AM Ratnam, the film finally released on July 24 after repeated delays caused by Pawan Kalyan’s political commitments.

The movie opened big, collecting around ₹34.75 crore on day one (plus ₹12.75 crore from premieres), marking the star’s career-best opening. However, momentum crashed on day two, with collections falling to about ₹8 crore—a 77% drop, among the sharpest in recent times. The filmmakers faced severe criticism for the subpar VFX.

Prior to the movie’s release, Pawan Kalyan had alleged that certain industry insiders orchestrated a theatre bandh to sabotage the release. He described the move as politically motivated and announced that going forward, the government would engage only with officially recognized industry bodies.

Responding to the petition, the High Court has adjourned the hearing to next week.