When 2026 Academy Award winner Michael B. Jordan shared a laugh with ‘RRR’ star Jr. NTR at 2023 Oscars after party

Michael B. Jordan, star of ‘Sinners’, sealed the Best Actor trophy at the 2026 Oscars, marking his maiden Academy Award victory. ‘Sinners’ has garnered rave reviews from both audiences and critics since hitting screens on April 18, 2025. Michael once shared his encounter with Indian star Jr NTR and voiced his aspiration to star in a Bollywood project someday.

Michael B. Jordan on Jr NTR

While promoting ‘Sinners’ last year, the first-time Oscar winner discussed actors Jr NTR and Priyanka Chopra. Recalling an Oscars after-party, he noted, “I see Jr NTR often. He loves sports, he loves basketball.” As photos resurfacing on social media show, he was referring to their meeting at the 2023 Oscars after-party, where he attended for SS Rajamouli's ‘RRR’, which snagged the historic win for its song “Naatu Naatu”.

Photo of Michael B. Jordan and Jr NTR

In the viral photo, Jr NTR beams with joy next to Michael B. Jordan, the two sharing a hearty laugh during their chat. Pictures of the duo from that year's party exploded on social media. As seen in the images, Jr NTR appeared delighted to meet Jordan at the event. Several shots from the night captured the actors in light-hearted moments, laughing together and quickly going viral. Jr NTR looked elegant in a black velvet bandhgala sherwani; Jordan rocked a sharp black suit with a striking rose detail on the shoulder.

Michael B. Jordan in ‘Sinners’

Meanwhile, Jordan's 2026 Oscar win honored his role in ‘Sinners’, portraying identical twins Smoke and Stack in a blues-tinged supernatural horror tale set in 1930s Mississippi. Ryan Coogler's ‘Sinners’ emerged as a top awards-season heavyweight, snagging a record 16 Academy Award nods and ultimately claiming six key victories.

Michael B. Jordan's milestone

With this win, Jordan becomes the sixth ‘Black’ actor to claim the Best Actor Oscar. He joins the prestigious lineup: Will Smith (King Richard, 2022), Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland, 2007), Jamie Foxx (Ray, 2005), Denzel Washington (Training Day, 2002), and trailblazer Sidney Poitier, the first ‘Black’ winner in 1964 for ‘Lilies of the Field’.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”