The ongoing “trolling” surrounding actors Pawan Kalyan and Sreeleela has made headlines after the release of Ustaad Bhagat Singh on March 19, 2026. Much of the online chatter has focused on three key areas: their on-screen age gap, the film’s box office performance, and a viral moment from a promotional event.
It’s again the country’s ‘age-obsession’ that got Sreeleela under scrutiny, following Pawan Kalyan—and their pairing on-screen. Social media users have widely criticised their pairing, echoing similar backlash Sreeleela faced for her recent film Guntur Kaaram opposite Mahesh Babu. Memes and comments questioning the suitability of such casting choices have proliferated, fueling debates about representation and ageism in the film industry. However, the obsession surrounding age should end, and be condemned—regardless of gender.
The film’s box-office performance has prompted closer examination of its financial results. The Ugadi festival debut of Ustaad Bhagat Singh created expectations for its commercial success, which the film has not achieved. The trolls have attacked both leads because they consider the film another disappointing performance. The criticism of Sreeleela’s character stems from her role, which critics consider both underdeveloped and unnecessary.
The viral incident which took place at a pre-release press event turned into a major scandal. A video clip showed Sreeleela staring at comic actor Mahesh Achanta while Pawan Kalyan spoke to the audience. Sreeleela described the situation as a friendly interaction between coworkers, while online critics began spreading the video.
Sreeleela shared her public image problems during an interview with anchor Suma because she wanted to promote her upcoming work. She revealed that she almost gave up her acting career because of the negative comments she received early in her professional journey. She claims she has developed “immunity” against online trolls who attacked her, but she wants to focus on her professional duties.
