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Published Nov 12, 2025 | 1:20 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 12, 2025 | 1:20 PM
Pawan Kalyan on the sets of 'Ustaad Bhagat Singh'. (X)
In Andhra Pradesh politics, where real-life drama often rivals the plot twists of a Telugu blockbuster, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan seems to be scripting his own politico-cinematic sequel.
Tongues began wagging after Kalyan was spotted at a police firing range in Tadepalli near Vijayawada, Glock 45 pistol in hand. The star-politician has also been slicing through the blue skies of the two Telugu states in his special jet — like a man in a hurry to save the world before doomsday.
Let’s first talk about his latest caper with the Glock. Kalyan arrived at the Andhra Pradesh Police Firing Range a few days ago, where he practised his shooting skills under the watchful eyes of bemused officials — probably wondering what this sudden display was all about. It wasn’t a movie set, after all.
Those familiar with Tollywood lore know of Kalyan’s fascination with firearms. Industry insiders joke that if a script has enough gunfights, Kalyan would nod approval without even listening to the rest of it. Like a desi Clint Eastwood, the actor-turned-politician seemed quite at home wielding the Glock — though the recoil did remind him, perhaps metaphorically, of the jolt his political fortunes took in the 2019 elections.
But the gun isn’t his only indulgence. The other side of Kalyan’s larger-than-life persona has taken to the skies. His frequent joyrides — Hyderabad to Vijayawada, back again, and detours that would make a boa constrictor dizzy — have drawn public attention and raised eyebrows among taxpayers footing the bill for his airborne adventures.
And then, of course, there’s his spiritual streak. When the SIT report on the alleged adulteration of ghee used in Tirupati laddus made headlines, Kalyan swiftly demanded the formation of a Sanatana Dharma Parirakshana Board — showcasing his pious avatar.
How spirituality, gun practice, and high-flying escapades fit into one narrative is anyone’s guess. Perhaps that’s the enigma, like that of the smile of Mona Lisa — or screenplay — that only Pawan Kalyan can explain.
