Prakash Raj’s mother passes away, Allu Arjun–Basil Joseph collaboration, Rishab Shetty unfollows almost everyone: Top 5 South stories of the day

South cinema saw several developments today, ranging from emotional moments and fresh controversies to social media buzz and film updates. Personal news from celebrities, industry discussions, and viral online activity kept fans talking throughout the day. Here’s a quick look at the top five South cinema stories making headlines.

Prakash Raj’s mother, Swarnalatha, passes away at 86

Veteran actor Prakash Raj is mourning the loss of his mother, Swarnalatha, who passed away at the age of 86 due to age-related health issues. She breathed her last on Monday morning at his residence. Swarnalatha played a key role in supporting and encouraging Prakash Raj during his early struggles. Her funeral will be held in Bengaluru, and several actors and filmmakers have expressed condolences to the grieving family.

Producer accuses AR Murugadoss of budget overrun in ‘Madharaasi’

Director AR Murugadoss is facing allegations from the producer of Madharaasi, starring Sivakarthikeyan. The producer has claimed that the film’s budget escalated from the planned Rs 110 crore to nearly Rs 170 crore, resulting in significant losses. A complaint has reportedly been filed seeking Rs 10 crore in compensation from the director, or asking him to write the story and screenplay for Ramana 2 and hand over its rights to the production house.

Allu Arjun–Basil Joseph film buzz for ‘AA25’

Allu Arjun is reportedly set to collaborate with Malayalam filmmaker Basil Joseph for his milestone 25th film, tentatively titled AA25. The buzz intensified after Basil was spotted at Allu Sirish’s wedding reception. If confirmed, the project will mark Allu Arjun’s first collaboration with a Malayalam director, blending Tollywood’s mass appeal with Mollywood’s storytelling style and raising excitement among fans across South India.

Rishab Shetty unfollows almost everyone on Instagram

Rishab Shetty has surprised fans by unfollowing almost everyone on Instagram. The Kantara star now follows only three accounts—his wife Pragathi Shetty, Rishad Shetty Films, and Rishid Shetty Foundation. He has also unfollowed several friends and colleagues from the film industry, raising eyebrows. Fans are speculating whether the actor is taking a break from social media, though there has been no official clarification yet.

Prabhas to join ‘Kalki 2898 AD 2’ shoot on April 10

Prabhas is reportedly set to begin shooting for Kalki 2898 AD 2 from April 10, 2026. While Amitabh Bachchan has already started working on the film, the actor is expected to join the shoot soon under director Nag Ashwin. However, there is no official confirmation yet from the makers regarding Prabhas’s schedule for the highly anticipated sequel.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”