Pawan Kalyan responds to boycott calls for Hari Hara Veera Mallu, urging fans to ‘stand strong’ and ‘fight back’ if they have the ‘guts’ against trolls.

The historic epic Hari Hara Veera Mallu starring Pawan Kalyan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Bobby Deol hit theatres this Thursday, with paid premieres held the night before. The film, directed partly by Krish and later by Jyothi after Krish exited the project, opened to mixed reviews and earned ₹44.20 crore net in India.

Following the release, some people on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) started campaigns with hashtags like #BoycottHHVM and #DisasterHHVM, which might be driven by political or personal reasons. Speaking at a success meet in Hyderabad, Pawan Kalyan addressed the boycott calls head-on.

He said, “I’ve seen a lot of negativity and calls to boycott Hari Hara Veera Mallu. Go ahead if you want. Many times, I’ve wondered if my films would even release or succeed. I come from a small town, Nellore, and I’m grateful to be where I am today. I don’t really know my worth, but apparently, I’m successful when people want to boycott my films. Is this some kind of Quit India movement? I’ve been through much worse.”

Pawan also urged his fans not to get discouraged by the negativity and challenged them to stand strong. “Don’t be so sensitive. Why let a few negative comments get you down? I’m the one facing the brunt, so you all should enjoy life. If you have the guts, hit back. Don’t let negativity win,” he said.

He also stressed that the film wasn’t just about him, producer AM Ratnam, or director Jyothi — it’s about their civilisation and ‘Bharatiyata’ (Indian identity).

The film tells the story of Veera Mallu, an outlaw who confronts the emperor Aurangzeb while searching for the legendary Koh-i-Noor diamond. The movie ends on a cliffhanger, setting up a sequel that is yet to go into production.