Meet the 7 haunting villains of Tollywood

Can you imagine a movie without a strong villain? Can you imagine 'Bahubali' without Bhallaladeva or 'Pushpa' without SP Bhanwar Shekhawat? Even in life, we often encounter negative characters who make us stronger and sometimes turn us into great fighters. ETimes compiles a list of some terrifying villians that truly elevated the cinematic experience, earning the films the label of ‘pan-Indian’ movies. An actor can never shine, fight, or thrive alone without a dark side to challenge them. Let's meet these exceptional seven villains of Tollywood who provided us with a taste of global cinema.

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As the manager of the syndicate overthrown by Pushpa, Sunil gave an incredible competition to Allu Arjun's charismatic character, Pushparaj, enhancing the overall movie experience. In recent times, when movie villains began dressing like everyday people we see in our daily lives, it became much easier for us to relate to them. This shift in how villains are portrayed in movies has made them more relatable and understandable to the audience.

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Rana portrayed the role of Prabhas's brother in the epic creation, Bahubali, by SS Rajamouli. His imposing presence, expressive eyes, and remarkable dialogue delivery made the character of Bhallaladeva unforgettable.Whenever Prabhas and Rana Daggubati share the screen together, it's noticeable that the villain character Bhallaladeva often dominates the scene. There are moments when he steals the thunder from the main protagonist.

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Vijay Sethupathi left a lasting impact as Bhavani, opposite Thalapathy Vijay. It's rare for a negative role to generate such excitement, especially when pitted against Thalapathy. The Bhavani theme song played a pivotal role in the movie's success, and Sethupathi's laid-back yet menacing demeanor shattered the stereotype of a villain's physique.

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Jagapathi Babu portrayed Basi Reddy, a murderous lunatic, in the Jr. NTR starrer. His appearance and actions were reminiscent of an eagle-eyed and cunning antagonist.He doesn't rely on fancy accessories or clothing to improve his appearance; instead, it's his facial expressions and even the tiniest details like his beard that make a difference.

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Sudeep, in defence of Nani's character, irritates viewers in every frame with his taunting, haunting, and menacing acts. Sudeep's portrayal of a psychotic villain in this movie shattered the notion of how far an antagonist can go in a film.In this movie, his acting was so compelling that he managed to fully captivate Samantha Ruth Prabhu's character both emotionally and physically.

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Garuda from KGF will be remembered as one of the most impactful villains in history. KGF could have been a straightforward protagonist-centric story, but with Ramachandra Raju as the formidable antagonist, it became an epic tale. He didn't just act like a villain; he lived the role.

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SP Bhanwar Shekhawat may have had limited screen time, but he left an indelible mark. It's rare for an actor to make such an awe-inspiring impact with limited appearance time in a pan-Indian movie. Fahad Fasil, a Malayalam actor, defied expectations and breathed life into the character of SP Bhanwar Shekhawat with his exceptional talent.

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