However, her most significant pivot came with the rise of political news as entertainment. In the hyper-competitive Telugu news media environment (dominated by TV5, ABN Andhra Jyothi, and T News), channels discovered that film stars commenting on politics garnered massive ratings. Roja leveraged this perfectly. Her fiery press conferences and heated debates on television transformed her from a retired actress into a political mascot for the YSR Congress Party (YCP). Here, the "entertainment" became the "political." Her aggressive, often controversial style of speech—which would have been a liability in a film script—became an asset in the theatre of political news. In the current era, Roja’s presence in popular media is defined by provocation. As a former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and minister in the YCP government, her commentary on the rival Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its leader Nara Chandrababu Naidu is relentless.

Her entertainment content was defined by high-octane dance numbers and a distinctive, nasal dialogue delivery that became her trademark. Popular media of the time—from Sitara and Andhra Jyothi film supplements to early satellite TV shows on ETV and Gemini TV—celebrated her for her "desi" (indigenous) appeal. She was the girl next door who could also wear glamorous chiffon saris, making her relatable to both rural and urban audiences. Her pairings with stars like Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, and Nagarjuna produced some of the biggest box office hits of the decade, cementing her as a bankable commodity in Telugu popular culture. As the film industry shifted towards younger actresses in the early 2000s, Roja demonstrated a masterful understanding of the changing media landscape. She understood that "entertainment content" was no longer limited to the cinema screen. She became a sought-after guest on early Telugu talk shows and comedy programs, where her candid, unfiltered speech—often devoid of the standard "film star polish"—made for compelling television.

For the Telugu audience, her appeal lies in authenticity. In an industry and political landscape often criticized for being dynastic and elitist, Roja—a self-made woman from a humble background—represents the triumph of raw energy over refinement. Her story is a testament to how entertainment content in India is not merely about escape; it is deeply intertwined with identity, power, and the raucous, loud, and deeply engaging nature of Telugu popular media.