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What does an actor do after delivering the biggest opening of his career with a film, but one that critics struggled to come to terms with? For Nani, the answer lies less in the numbers, and more in the filmmaker beside him.
Nani's The Paradise arrived in theatres on 24 September to a divided response. The action drama, directed by Srikanth Odela, drew mixed reviews and heavy criticism online, yet it gave the actor the biggest opening of his career, with a reported ₹76 crore worldwide on day one.
It has since crossed ₹100 crore net in India and ₹150 crore worldwide, according to Sacnilk. The film marks the second collaboration between Nani and Odela after Dasara (2023), Odela's directorial debut.
In an exclusive conversation with THR India, Nani reflected on what the long road to the film taught him, and the actor put Odela at the centre of his praise.
The actor explained that the experience has reaffirmed his faith in the director's ideas. “I also know, and it's really re-confirming for me, that Srikanth's ideas work big time. He's a very, very strong guy, and now he will do something extraordinary with his third film next," Nani said.
Nani added that audiences are in for a surprise. "People might be surprised that I am making this statement, but I know it will be surprising for them to see what is coming up," the actor said. "If we correct ourselves by moving ahead with someone with a very strong idea, it will develop into something absolutely magical,” the actor explained further.
The Paradise was originally scheduled for 26 March 2026 and was later pushed to September. Nani said the delays and gaps between schedules shaped his biggest takeaway. "How much ever time it takes to make a film, be it two years, three years, five years, the most time should be spent in preparation or post, not in the making of the film. That is what Srikanth and I have learnt from it," Nani said.
"Making a film takes a lot of time. There are big, big breaks between the schedules… I think we should spend almost sixty to seventy per cent in pre-production and post-production rather than in the making," the actor added.
Odela is next set to direct Chiranjeevi in a film backed by SLV Cinemas, with Nani among its presenters. As for Nani, the actor will next be seen in Bloody Romeo, directed by Sujeeth, in which he plays a gangster in a stylish action drama. As a producer, he also has HIT: The Fourth Case, directed by Sailesh Kolanu, in the pipeline.
Watch our full interview with the actor on The Hollywood Reporter India's YouTube channel