Khaleja, directed by Trivikram Srinivas and starring Mahesh Babu, remains a unique film in Telugu cinema, despite not achieving the commercial success expected upon its release in 2010.
While it underperformed at the box office, Mahesh Babu’s performance, especially his distinctive body language and comic timing, received a lot of praise and over the years it became a cult film.
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One of the most controversial aspects of Khaleja’s release was the title dispute. The title Khaleja had already been registered by an individual before the film’s announcement. When the film’s team revealed the title, the individual took the matter to court, seeking an injunction to prevent the film’s release.
After reviewing the case, the judge noted that with the shooting and promotional work already completed, halting the release would be unfair. The judge recommended the petitioner seek compensation instead. Initially, the petitioner requested 10 lakhs, which the producers agreed to. However, after the lunch break, the petitioner raised the amount to 25 lakhs.
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The judge found the petition fishy and dismissed it. As a result, the film was allowed to release as planned, but with one modification: the title was changed to Mahesh Khaleja to avoid further legal issues.
This step sparked a trend in the industry, and many filmmakers began adding their lead actors’ names to film titles to prevent similar legal complications.
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Recently, Khaleja has been given a second chance to shine, with an announced re-release on May 30. This gives fans the opportunity to revisit the film in theaters.
Khaleja remains an important milestone in Mahesh Babu’s career and continues to hold a special place in the hearts of his fanbase.
