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News18
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Pawan Kalyan Never Wanted To Act But Box Office Had Other Plans
The actor recalled his younger days and opened up about the time when he was still figuring out what he wanted to do in the future. Telugu superstar Pawan Kalyan revealed that acting was never his first choice; in fact, the actor never planned on following his brother Chiranjeevi's footsteps and joining the film industry. During an interview, Pawan opened up and stated that he was pushed into the films. For decades, Pawan Kalyan has been entertaining the fans with back-to-back blockbuster hits, using his platform to inspire the youth and instil in them a sense of patriotism and civic duty. Although he was not sure about joining the entertainment industry at first, he soon realised its immense power and started using his platform to give back to society. Pawan Kalyan Reveals He Was 'Pushed Into Films' During an interview with Times News, Pawan Kalyan was seen reflecting on his acting career as he candidly opened up about his dreams, initial days in the industry, and his films. During the interview, the actor recalled his younger days and opened up about the time when he was still figuring out what he wanted to do in the future. 'Even as I was figuring it out, I knew I wanted to contribute in some meaningful way. As you know, acting was never my original plan. I was pushed into films, but I found myself on this platform, and I recognised its immense power," Pawan stated. He further explained that the thought of giving back to society was instilled by the stories of our freedom fighters. 'Like many teenagers, I was grappling with my identity and future, but one thing that always stayed with me was the deep inspiration I drew from our freedom struggle," Pawan stated, explaining that the countless sacrifices made by individuals for the independence of our country developed in him a profound sense of patriotism, for which the actor possesses a deep sense of duty toward the society. Pawan Kalyan On Using His Platform To Give Back To Society Pawan Kalyan also explained how he uses his platform to give back to society and inspire the youth. 'From the very beginning, I made a conscious effort to use films, particularly through songs, to send messages without being preachy," he stated, explaining that with directors, musicians, and technicians, he found a way to embed messages of patriotism, civic duty, and questioning the status quo through their songs. Pawan Kalyan's Latest Release Pawan Kumar was last seen in Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 – Sword vs Spirit, where he played the titular character as the hero going head-to-head with Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (played by Bobby Deol) in his attempts at retrieving the Koh-i-Noor. Alongside Pawan Kalyan and Bobby Deol, the film also starred Nidhi Agerwal and Sathyaraj in prominent roles. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
2,500 gather in downtown Hendersonville for "No Kings" protest of federal actions
HENDERSONVILLE - Protesters filled Hendersonville's Historic Courthouse Square June 14 for a 'No Kings' rally in protest of what many attendees characterized as federal abuses of power. Attendees criticized immigration enforcement, proposed cuts to social services including Medicare and Social Security and the federal response to other demonstrations, including in Los Angeles, where the Trump administration deployed the U.S. Marine Corps that day, according to USA TODAY reporting. People carried signs that read 'No king, no dictator, no oligarchs,' and '$$$ for vets, not parades,' referring to proposed cuts to Veterans Affairs benefits and a June 14 military parade in Washington. They chanted 'Power to the people, Chuck Edwards is a coward,' referring to a perception among his critics that the U.S. House Republican is unwilling to push back against President Donald Trump's agenda. Organizer Laura Bannister told the Times-New that, after consulting with the Hendersonville Police Department, she estimated around 2,500 people attended – five times the number that had turned out for a protest she organized in February. She had been worried about counter-protesters disrupting the event, but few actually showed up and 'the police did a great job' of keeping the two camps separate, she said. Joan Kershner, 84, told the Times-News that she was born in the U.S. two years after her parents escaped Nazi Germany in 1938. 'Would I be a citizen under some people's ideas about citizenship? I don't know,' she said. 'To ostracize (immigrants) and treat them as badly as they're being treated is morally wrong and bad for our country.' Denise Cumbee Long works for the nonprofits Literacy Connection and True Ridge, which teach English and provide legal assistance and other services to immigrants. Many immigrants she works with afraid of 'coming out, going to their jobs, (because they're) worried about being picked up by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement),' including when they go to Citizenship and Immigration Services hearings in Charlotte. 'We've heard of some people who are not taking public transport anymore, who don't want to drive,' she said. 'Some people are afraid to send their kids to school.' At around 11:15 a.m., organizers paused the protest to hold a moment of silence for Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman, who Reuters reported was shot and killed that morning, along with her husband, in what authorities say was a political assassination. 'I marched in Memphis. I never thought I'd have to do this again,' Fannie Smith, 68, told the Times-News soon after, seeming to refer both to political violence and the need for civil rights activism related to immigration. Smith, a former employee of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, said that she would march to the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1968 assassination, on MLK Day starting in the 1980s. 'People think that small towns don't care, a red county doesn't care,' she said. 'But there are people here that do care. We love our country. We love our flag.' Holbart Toledo, 42, came to the United State from Ecuador 25 years ago. 'I'm more worried about people around me, because I've been in this country for so long, and I love the country and I feel safe,' he said, but he still carries his passport with him, just in case. 'With all this happening … You don't even know now anymore what can happen.' The Henderson County Sheriff's Office provided the Times-News a brief written statement saying that the June 14 protest was respectful of the community and of law enforcement, but did not address criticism of its cooperation with ICE. Rep. Edwards' office couldn't be reached for comment by deadline. More: Photos: 'No Kings' protest draws thousands to downtown Asheville George Fabe Russell is the Henderson County Reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News. Tips, questions, comments? Email him at GFRussell@ This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Hendersonville "No Kings" protest draws 2,500, organizers say
