Nagarjuna Akkineni says he finally saw a smile on his son Naga Chaitanya's face at 'Thandel' success meet: 'He reminded me of my father...'

Nagarjuna Akkineni recently expressed his admiration for his son, Naga Chaitanya, for delivering a remarkable performance in his latest film, 'Thandel', featuring Sai Pallavi in the lead role. However, Nagarjuna’s emotional and candid speech at the success meet of 'Thandel' stole the spotlight. He compared Naga Chaitanya’s screen presence to that of his father, Akkineni Nageswara Rao.

Nagarjuna began his speech by reflecting on how long it had been since he last attended a success meet, expressing his joy at the occasion. He acknowledged the contributions of producer Allu Aravind and Bunny Vas, crediting them for playing a crucial role in making 'Thandel' a success for the Akkineni family.



On the day 'Thandel' was released, Nagarjuna was at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office with his family and was unaware of the film’s reception, as he had not carried his phone. After the meeting, he was flooded with calls and messages, revealing the immense support from Akkineni fans, who celebrated the film’s success as their own. This overwhelming response reaffirmed his confidence in the enduring love for the Akkineni legacy.

Nagarjuna lauded director Chandoo Mondeti for bringing out the best in Naga Chaitanya. He also took a moment to acknowledge composer Devi Sri Prasad and was equally effusive in his admiration for Sai Pallavi.

The Mass actor praised Naga Chaitanya for fully immersing himself in the role of Raju, sharing how his son was deeply moved by the struggles of real-life fisherfolk. Chaitanya’s experience on set gave him a newfound appreciation for their hardships, which Nagarjuna acknowledged with deep respect.

The actor expressed his pride in his son’s dedication, drawing a parallel to his legendary father, Akkineni Nageswara Rao. “I am so happy for Chaitanya. I am so happy to see the smile on his face. Throughout the film, he maintained the character, and there were many scenes where he excelled. I have seen my dad deliver such performances in many films. He reminded me of my father,” he stated.