Allu Arjun Calls Pushpa 2 Saree Look His ‘Most Alpha’ Moment

Allu Arjun's transformation into a woman for the Gangamma Jathara sequence in Pushpa 2: The Rule became one of the film's most striking moments. The actor recently reflected on the experience of wearing a saree, jewellery, makeup and blue body paint, calling the performance the “most alpha thing” he has ever done.

Allu Arjun said that playing a woman was among the boldest choices he had made as an actor. In Pushpa 2, his character Pushpa Raj undergoes a dramatic transformation during the Gangamma Jathara ritual, a traditional celebration associated with Goddess Gangamma in parts of Andhra Pradesh.

The festival is celebrated over several days and is linked to the legend of the goddess defeating a local ruler. As part of the rituals, devotees can dress in elaborate costumes and feminine attire.

For the film's sequence, Pushpa Raj appears in a saree with elaborate jewellery, makeup and blue body paint. The striking appearance was a major departure from the rugged, masculine image associated with the character throughout the franchise.

The Gangamma Jathara sequence became one of the most recognisable visual portions of Pushpa 2. However, the transformation was not added simply to create a visually unusual scene. The ritual plays a role in the film's narrative and becomes an important part of Pushpa Raj's journey.

The performance required Allu Arjun to balance two contrasting elements. He had to convincingly portray the feminine appearance and movements associated with the ritual while retaining the confidence, aggression and swagger that define Pushpa Raj.

The transformation also demonstrated the extent to which the Pushpa franchise has expanded Allu Arjun's image as a pan-India star. The success of Pushpa 2 further increased the reach of the character and established the franchise as one of the major commercial successes of Indian cinema.

Reflecting on the impact of the franchise, Allu Arjun said the success of Pushpa had motivated him to explore larger ambitions for Indian cinema. The actor's growing popularity has also opened the way for him to take on projects with significantly larger scales.

Allu Arjun's next major project is filmmaker Atlee's science-fiction film Raaka, produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures. The film features Deepika Padukone alongside Allu Arjun and is expected to release in December 2027.

The science-fiction project is reportedly being developed on a budget exceeding Rs 1,000 crore and is expected to be among the largest Indian productions in terms of scale.

The actor also has AA23, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, in his upcoming lineup. Meanwhile, Pushpa 3: The Rampage is expected to continue the story of Pushpa Raj, although an official announcement regarding the third instalment has not yet been made.