Natural Star Nani has long been one of Tollywood’s most dependable actors, known for his consistent performances and solid box office pull. Post-pandemic, however, his theatrical journey has faced a few bumps, even as his non-theatrical market—especially on OTT platforms—has grown significantly.
A Mixed Bag of Hits and Misses
While MCA (Middle Class Abbayi) remains Nani’s biggest theatrical hit for years, it was Dasara that matched those box office numbers and reignited hopes for a strong comeback. Unfortunately, many of his other recent releases haven’t replicated that success at the box office, often turning into cost failures for distributors.
HIT 3 Disappoints Despite Strong Opening
Nani’s latest outing, HIT 3, started with impressive collections but failed to sustain momentum. Despite a grand opening, the film couldn’t recover investments in most territories, leaving several distributors in the red.
Recap of Recent Releases
- Shyam Singha Roy (2021): Though it turned a profit for producers, distributors suffered losses due to post-pandemic market conditions and government policies. They were eventually compensated.
- Ante Sundaraniki: Opened decently in Nizam and overseas but underperformed in other regions. Despite Nani’s pride in the project, the film was deemed a commercial flop.
- Dasara: Emerged as the highest-grossing film in Nani’s career. Multiple parties were involved, and some distributors saw returns after GST reimbursements. The producer made a solid profit.
- Hi Nanna: Opened to low theatrical numbers despite being one of the most-watched Telugu films on Netflix. Nani took over the theatrical rights himself, but the film saw minimal box office traction.
- Saripodhaa Sanivaaram: Got off to a strong start but couldn’t sustain the momentum. Distributors incurred minor losses, and the film struggled to reach the theatrical benchmark.
The Bigger Picture
With HIT 3 wrapping up its theatrical run, industry insiders are now questioning Nani’s box office pull in current times. Despite delivering quality content and enjoying a strong OTT fanbase, his recent films are failing to deliver consistent theatrical success.
As of now, Nani has yet to publicly respond to the growing conversation around the diminishing theatrical returns of his films. Whether his future projects can reverse the trend remains to be seen.
