Rajamouli’s bold claim on ‘Eega’: Filmmaker defends creativity while addressing past doubts; Says, “Many said I could only do mass films after Simhadri"

At the pre-release event of the upcoming film 'Junior', SS Rajamouli surprised fans by revealing that Eega holds a special place in his heart, calling it his best work to date. The moment came during a casual Q&A session hosted by Suma, where Rajamouli responded with a single but powerful line when a montage of his films was shown: “Eega, my best film.”The 2012 fantasy action film, starring Nani, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Sudeep, revolved around a man reincarnated as a housefly seeking revenge.Though the Nani starrer was one of the early works of 'RRR' director, it stood out for it's stunning visuals and story telling style.During his address, Rajamouli also touched upon a lesser-discussed phase of his career, when he was criticized for focusing solely on mass-action films. Reflecting on the post-Simhadri period, he shared, “Many said I could only do mass films after Simhadri. I tried to prove otherwise with Sye.”Released in 2004, 'Sye' was a college rugby-based sports drama that broke away from the usual action template. Rajamouli’s decision to take up such a different genre was his subtle way of showing that he could stretch beyond expectations — a creative streak that has since become his trademark.Apart from the nostalgic moments, the Junior event also became a celebration of Genelia Deshmukh’s return to Telugu cinema. Rajamouli couldn’t hide his admiration as he said, “Genelia, you’re frozen in time, man. What… how many years have passed, yet you look exactly the same.” He even revealed asking cinematographer Senthil if audiences would see a “new Genelia” in the film.Visibly touched, Genelia responded with grace: “You are too too kind, sir. Means so much to me.” 'Junior' is set for a big release on July 18.