Rom-Coms Are Back: Telugu Love Stories Finding Their Charm Again
telugu romantic comedies Explore how Telugu romantic comedies are making a comeback in 2025. From heartfelt love stories to witty entertainers, discover the new wave of Tollywood romance films winning hearts again.
After years of larger-than-life action spectacles and mythological dramas dominating Telugu cinema, romantic comedies (rom-coms) are once again stealing the spotlight.
In 2025, Tollywood audiences have rediscovered their love for feel-good stories, modern relationships, and emotional simplicity. Films like Bubblegum and Kushi have sparked a wave of renewed interest in romance-driven narratives, marking a heartwarming comeback for the genre.
💞 The Lost Era of Telugu Rom-Coms
Between 2017 and 2023, Telugu cinema was defined by scale and spectacle — Baahubali, Pushpa, Akhanda, and RRR changed the industry’s direction.
While these blockbusters elevated Tollywood globally, they also pushed romantic dramas to the sidelines.
The audience began craving emotional storytelling again — stories about connection, everyday love, and relationships that felt real.
This nostalgia has now evolved into a modern revival, led by young filmmakers and fresh-faced stars.
🌸 The 2025 Rom-Com Revival: What Changed?
🎥 1. Younger Storytellers, Real Conversations
Filmmakers like Ravikanth Perepu (Kshanam, Krishna and His Leela) and Deepthi Ganta (Meet Cute) have brought refreshing authenticity to on-screen romance.
These directors focus on realistic dialogues, mutual respect between partners, and emotional vulnerability — far from the over-the-top dramatics of older love stories.
💡 2. OTT Influence on Storytelling
The OTT boom (Aha, Netflix, Prime Video) has reshaped audience tastes.
Viewers now prefer character-driven love stories with depth and humor rather than conventional formulas.
Films like Bubblegum (2023) and Love Me If You Dare (2025) reflect this sensibility — urban, youthful, and emotionally grounded.
💃 3. Female Voices in Love Stories
One of the most positive shifts is the rise of female-centered rom-coms.
Movies like Meet Cute, Sita Ramam, and Miss Shetty Mr. Polishetty set a trend where women have stronger, more independent arcs within love stories.
❤️ 4. Aesthetic Storytelling & Music Revival
Romance and music have always gone hand-in-hand in Tollywood.
Composers like Hesham Abdul Wahab (Hi Nanna, Kushi) and Thaman S have reignited the charm of soothing romantic soundtracks, enhancing emotional storytelling.
💘 Notable Romantic Hits & Highlights
🎬 Bubblegum (2023)
- Cast: Roshan Kanakala, Maanasa Choudhary
- Why It Worked: A Gen-Z rom-com with nostalgic college vibes and authentic performances.
- Roshan’s natural acting brought freshness reminiscent of 2000s campus hits like Happy Days.
🔗 Read: The Hindu Review of Bubblegum
🎬 Kushi (2023)
- Cast: Vijay Deverakonda, Samantha Ruth Prabhu
- Why It Worked: A mature romance exploring post-marital struggles with warmth and humor.
- The film’s sincerity, music, and chemistry resonated across demographics.
🎬 Love Me If You Dare (2025)
- Cast: Ashish Reddy, Vaishnavi Chaitanya
- Why It Worked: A paranormal twist on romance — experimental but rooted in Telugu emotional tone.
- Represents the fusion of genre innovation and love story tradition.
🎬 Hi Nanna (2023)
- Cast: Nani, Mrunal Thakur
- Why It Worked: Beautifully emotional storytelling with heartfelt performances and a father-daughter dynamic.
- One of the most streamed Telugu films on Netflix in 2024, strengthening the demand for soft romance.
🌹 Why Telugu Audiences Love Rom-Coms Again
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Relatability: Modern rom-coms speak to everyday youth — friendships, self-discovery, and love beyond clichés.
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Emotionally Comforting: In a post-pandemic world, audiences are drawn to lighter, hopeful themes.
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Balanced Entertainment: The genre now merges humor, realism, and intimacy in ways older films couldn’t.
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Fresh Faces: Actors like Roshan Kanakala, Vaishnavi Chaitanya, and Siddu Jonnalagadda bring authenticity and charm to their roles.
🎥 Industry Insight: Rom-Coms as Smart Box Office Bets
While mega-action films dominate budgets, romantic comedies are low-risk, high-return investments for producers.
- Average budget: ₹6–12 crore
- OTT + music rights recovery: 60–70% pre-release
- Urban multiplex audience + streaming revenue = sustainable model
In short, the rom-com genre’s business model is perfectly aligned with the evolving Tollywood ecosystem.
💬 Industry Voices
🎙️ Nani (in a recent Aha interview):
“Audiences want to smile, cry, and fall in love again. After so many intense films, they’re craving something heartfelt — and that’s what Telugu cinema is rediscovering.”
🎙️ Director Ravikanth Perepu:
“Romance is timeless, but our perspective on love changes. We’re telling the same stories differently now — more honestly, more emotionally.”
💡 Internal Link
📖 Related Reading: Inside Telugu Cinema’s New Gen Stars: Teja Sajja, Kireeti Reddy, and Roshan Kanakala
– Explore how new-age Telugu actors are redefining on-screen love and youth-centric storytelling.
🌍 Useful Links
❓ FAQs – Telugu Romantic Comedies 2025
Q1. Are romantic comedies popular again in Telugu cinema?
A: Yes! After years of action dominance, 2025 has seen a huge revival in Telugu rom-coms.
Q2. Which recent Telugu romantic films are must-watches?
A: Bubblegum, Love Me If You Dare, Kushi, and Hi Nanna have all received audience love.
Q3. Who are the leading new-gen actors in romantic Telugu films?
A: Roshan Kanakala, Vaishnavi Chaitanya, and Sreeleela are emerging as the faces of new-age love stories.
Telugu romantic comedies are no longer outdated relics of the past — they’ve evolved into emotionally intelligent, youth-driven stories that reflect the times we live in.
In 2025, Tollywood rediscovered the magic of love — in laughter, silence, music, and everyday moments.
As audiences fall in love with romance again, one thing is clear:
💖 The heart of Telugu cinema is beating stronger than ever.
✍️ Author Block
Written by: Movishala Editorial Team
Editor: Movishala Blog
Date: October 2025
