Waves Summit 2025: Allu Arjun reflects on 2018 career slump—Ignored Advice, hit rock bottom, hired life coaches

Allu Arjun saw a new lease of stardom post the massive success of Sarrainodu in 2016. But following that, two of his films, DJ and Naa Peru Surya, ended as massive flops and disappointed the Pushpa star big time. Allu Arjun stayed away from movies for almost a year and a half before finally bouncing back with Trivikram Srinivas's Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo.

Allu Arjun pours his heart out at Summit 2025

Allu Arjun reflected on this phase at the Waves Summit 2025 in Mumbai on May 1, 2025, and shared how he had stopped taking advice and become complacent in life.

"I scored a massive flop with Naa Peru Surya. Just a few months before the film's release, there were so many well-wishers of mine advising me about my career. I was so complacent that I stopped taking advice. I felt everything was going in the right direction, until I fell flat on my face and decided to take a six-month-long break," said Allu Arjun.

The Rudhramadevi actor also added that he went through a lot of introspection and took professional advice on how to make a comeback in his career. "Since then, things changed, and I gave the biggest hit of Telugu cinema in the form of Ala Vaikunthapurramloo," says Allu Arjun

Allu Arjun about his lean phase in 2018

"I planned to take a six-month gap, but it went on for almost 15 months. I learned a lot during that time and understood that every piece of advice is important, and there is nothing wrong with taking suggestions from others. Since then, even if it's from a light boy or my assistants, I take constant advice and have now hired life coaches to become a better person and handle life situations in a better manner," added Allu Arjun.

The star hero also revealed that he is taking on something very challenging for his next film with Theri director Atlee and says that something like this has never been attempted before in Indian cinema. He is eagerly waiting to take the film on the floors.

But Allu Arjun received the loudest cheer when he mentioned his uncle and megastar Chiranjeevi’s name after being asked what keeps him grounded.

"Chiranjeevi garu is my inspiration to come into movies. He has seen it all, and his massive success and the way he handled it are a lesson for actors like me to keep myself grounded," concluded Allu Arjun.

Chiranjeevi also attended the Waves Summit 2025 and spoke about how he made a breakthrough in Tollywood amidst big stars like NTR and ANR.