• Source:JND
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KGF: South star Yash became a household name after playing Rocky Bhai in the blockbuster pan-India action thriller franchise, KGF. Directed by Prashant Neel and produced by Hombale Films, the franchise not only transformed Yash’s career but also gave the Kannada film industry a massive boost in national and global recognition. Recently, rumours began circulating that Yash was not the first choice for the role. The makers have now responded, firmly denying the claims.

KGF producers, in an interview with Hindustan Times, said, “We’ve been working with Yash for longer than we have with any other actor. Moreover, Yash is a member of our family. KGF was created with Yash in mind, and for us, he will always be Rocky Bhai. We were constantly in contact with several other actors across India for significant roles in KGF 1. Any speculations or rumours suggesting that Yash was not the top choice for KGF are false. We have not made any such remarks." The statement made it clear that Yash was always intended to play the lead role in KGF.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Chaluve Gowda, co-founder of Hombale Films, also spoke about the challenges they faced before the franchise’s success. He shared how the reputation of Kannada films has changed over time. “We went to a major star for KGF years ago. They asked, ‘Where do these Kannada films even run?’ At the time, few people outside of Karnataka were familiar with Kannada cinema. They knew a few names, including Dr. Rajkumar. But that was it. That has definitely changed now," he said. Gowda added that the massive success of KGF and Kantara has elevated Kannada cinema’s status in the Indian film industry.

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KGF’s Record-Breaking Success

KGF Chapter 1 was released in 2018 and quickly became the highest-grossing Kannada film of all time, collecting over Rs 250 crore despite facing a box office clash with Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero. Its sequel, KGF Chapter 2, released in 2022, shattered multiple records and went on to earn over Rs 1,000 crores worldwide. The makers have already announced KGF Chapter 3, but production has not yet begun. Fans are eagerly awaiting more updates, and with Yash’s return as Rocky Bhai confirmed, expectations are sky-high.