Why Did Tovino Say No While Prithviraj Said Yes?

A bunch of Malayalam stars are making their way into other language films because of their versatility and wide acceptance from moviegoers. Among those who are making a steady progress with substantial roles are Prithviraj Sukumaran and Tovino Thomas. 

Earlier today, Tovino Thomas sparked a huge debate in Tollywood circles when he issued a formal clarification about the reasons for taking a sudden exit from the prestigious NTR – Neel project after initially signing the dotted line to play crucial role in it. Tovino stated that he was unable to adjust dates for such a prolonged period at the cost of foregoing other commitments. 

While the reasons put forth by Tovino sound convincing and rationale given that he is currently one of the busiest actors of Malayalam and also because of the fact that he rushes through his commitments without wasting much time on any project for not more than three months, then there is another Mallu actor Prithviraj Sukumaran who is setting a different standards in terms of signing pan-India Telugu films. 

Prithviraj Sukumaran, who is also a busy star like Tovino Thomas, is striking a strong balance between his commitments in Malayalam and other languages like Telugu in which he made his debut with Prashanth Neel’s Salaar. Prithviraj will next be seen in a very crucial role in SS Rajamouli’s upcoming globe-trotting action adventure ‘Varanasi’ which stars Mahesh Babu in the lead role. 

As it is well known that Rajamouli usually gobbles up several years of artists for completing films, Prithviraj Sukumaran might need to dedicate minimum two years completely for Varanasi. He previously alloted adequate number of call sheets for Salaar : Part 1 and will do the same thing if the sequel goes on floors in future. 

It is very surprising that Prithviraj is able to manage both extremes without any complaints, but Tovino Thomas is finding it difficult to allot bulk dates for pan-India films with the fear of losing opportunities in his own industry. 

Keeping aside their preferences and perspectives, one thing which is very much sure is that Prithviraj Sukumaran will gain global stardom for all the dedication and patience in working for Varanasi for more than two years.

However, many opined that Tovino Thomas has lost a golden chance to expand his popularity beyond Malayalam by doing the NTR – Neel project, while some argue that he might know what is best for him, considering the successful path he has taken with his films so far.