Later in his career, he stopped playing a prince in his commercial films and began to play roles of a poor yet heroic young man fighting against the existing system. These films appealed to the sentiments of the common man. Some of these films are "Devudu Chesina Manushulu" (1973), "Adavi Ramudu" (1977), "Driver Ramudu" (1979), "Vetagadu" (1979), "Sardar Papa Rayudu" (1980), "Kondaveeti Simham" (1981), "Justice Chowdary" (1982) and "Bobbili Puli" (1982). He also portrayed fantasy roles, his notable film in that genre being "Yamagola" (1977).