After a two-year hiatus following Custody, Naga Chaitanya is gearing up for his much-anticipated return to the big screen with Thandel. This film marks his second collaboration with Sai Pallavi after their successful pairing in Love Story. With a multilingual release planned in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi, Thandel has already garnered significant support from the industry.
Tamil star Karthi and Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan have lent their backing to the project by unveiling the Tamil and Hindi trailers in Chennai and Mumbai, respectively. Expressing his gratitude for their support, Chaitanya, in an interview, shared his appreciation for the relationships he has built in the industry, calling himself “fortunate” to have such meaningful connections.
Reflecting on his bond with Aamir Khan, whom he worked with on his Bollywood debut Laal Singh Chaddha, Chaitanya acknowledged the immense impact the veteran actor has had on his journey. Despite their brief time together during the film’s shoot, he revealed that the lessons he took away from that experience were invaluable—comparable to the insights he gained throughout his entire career. Aamir, he said, remains an inspiration both as an artist and as a human being.
Adding an interesting twist to the release of Thandel, the film is set to hit theaters on February 7, the same day as Loveyapa, starring Aamir’s son Junaid Khan. Few are aware that Junaid had initially auditioned for the lead role in Laal Singh Chaddha before the part eventually went to Aamir himself. Chaitanya recalled meeting Junaid during the shoot of the film and spoke highly of him, describing him as a humble and talented individual. He also pointed out another connection between their films—Loveyapa is directed by Advait Chandan, who had previously helmed Laal Singh Chaddha. Wishing Junaid and his team the best, Chaitanya expressed his excitement for both projects and his hope for their success.
Which movie are you looking forward to?
