Hyderabad, April 10: Director Aditya Dhar, riding high on Dhurandhar 2‘s record-breaking success, has called Telugu superstar Prabhas a “legend,” sparking massive celebrations among fans and reigniting debates over pan-Indian cinema’s biggest icon.
Dhar made the comment during a promotional event for his brother Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming project Spirit, where he thanked industry well-wishers. “Give my love to the Legend Prabhas sir!” he stated, sending Prabhas fans into a frenzy across social media platforms.
The endorsement holds weight coming from Dhar, whose Dhurandhar 2 has grossed over ₹1,622 crore worldwide, challenging Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 for India’s highest-grossing film title. Fans see it as validation of Prabhas’s unparalleled stature post-Baahubali and Salaar.
Cross-Industry Respect
Dhar joins a growing list of directors praising Prabhas’s global appeal:
- The Raja Saab director Maruthi called him a “pan-world star” with massive Japan fanbase
- Fauji director Hanu Raghavapudi described his warrior role as embodying Arjuna-Karna traits
- Sandeep Reddy Vanga previously introduced Prabhas as “India’s biggest star”
Social media exploded with #LegendPrabhas trending at No. 1 India-wide:
| Fan Reactions | Platform Reach |
|---|---|
| “Aditya Dhar confirms what we knew!” | 3.2M X posts |
| “Legend > Superstar debate settled” | 1.8M Instagram Reels |
| Memes pitting vs Allu Arjun | 850K YouTube shorts |
Prabhas’s Pan-India Legacy
Prabhas transformed from Telugu star to national phenomenon with Baahubali 2 (₹1,800 Cr worldwide), becoming Indian cinema’s first “pan-India” icon per academic analyses. Salaar (₹700 Cr) and Kalki 2898 AD further cemented his 500-crore club dominance.
Trade analyst Ramesh Bala noted the timing. “Dhar’s words boost Prabhas ahead of The Raja Saab summer release. Cross-industry validation drives fan loyalty,” he said.
Director Context
Aditya Dhar’s respect carries weight after delivering Dhurandhar 2‘s mass spectacle, often compared to Prabhas’s action spectacles. His brother Sandeep’s Animal success (Ranbir Kapoor) adds sibling rivalry flavour to the praise.
Producer Karan Johar reposted: “When creators call creators legends, you know it’s real.” Prabhas, shooting The Raja Saab in Europe, yet to respond officially.
Fans flooded Dhar’s post with gratitude, while rival camps reignited star wars online.
Aditya Dhar’s heartfelt “Legend” tag elevates Prabhas’s mythic status at peak career moment, fuelling summer box office anticipation while underscoring Telugu cinema’s national influence through genuine industry camaraderie.
