Mahesh Treats Charan Rival! Not Prabhas, NTR

Professional rivalry on a healthy note makes one's skills improved. As in many other professions, we witness a healthy professional rivalry among top heroes though they have been good friends of sorts. 

Having done the case study of top heroes films and the heroes' attitudes on the statuses of the films, it is understood that Prince Mahesh Babu treats Mega Power Star Ram Charan as the best opponent to him rather anyone else including Prabhas and NTR. Checkout the following analysis. 

Post Magadheera released in 2009 and became the industry hit of Tollywood with Rs. 80+ crores share world wide including all languages, none of the films crossed the film's records for a long time. 

Mahesh Babu's Dookudu hit the screens on 23 September, 2011 and stood as a blockbuster with Rs.55 crores full run world wide share. However, during the beginning days of the film's release, Mahesh Babu and producers appeared so desperate to prove their film as an industry hit. The first week and the subsequent posters were shown with abnormal collections of Dookudu. On the other side, Mahesh Babu tweeted, "It's official. Dookudu is the highest grosser of Tollywood."

Ram Charan's Rangasthalam released last year and became the new industry hit (non BB) of Tollywood with Rs.127 crores world wide share. This time, Mahesh Babu tried to project Bharat Ane Nenu as an industry hit. While Rangasthalam makers posted genuine gross on posters, BAN makers preferred bloated numbers. Similarly, Maharshi team tried to beat Rangasthalam genuine share with hiked numbers. Since the film under performed in many areas, the goal hasn't been achieved by the team.

On the contrary, Mahesh Babu exhibited a great respected on Baahubali, when the film hit the cinemas. The Prince, got his Srimanthudu film release postponed by a month as well. 

Altogether, Mahesh Babu appeared to have treated Mega Power Star as the number one professional rival. Obviously, the answer for the question, 'Who is number one hero of Tollywood?' can also be adjudged.