Nani has once again questioned the use of the “pan-India” label for South Indian films. Ahead of the release of The Paradise, the actor said he does not want his upcoming Telugu action thriller to be described as a pan-Indian film and questioned why the term is used more often for South Indian movies.
Speaking at a promotional event in Chennai, Nani compared the treatment of successful Hindi films with that of South Indian releases that find audiences across multiple language markets. He said his preference has consistently been to avoid the label for his films.
Nani Questions Why South Films Get The Pan-India Tag
Nani explained that when a Hindi film performs strongly in Tamil, Telugu or Malayalam markets, it generally continues to be described as a Hindi film. He specifically mentioned Shah Rukh Khan’s 'Jawan' and 'Pathaan' as examples.
According to Nani, both films performed well in southern markets but were still identified as Hindi films. He questioned why a Telugu film reaching audiences across India is more readily described as “pan-Indian.” He added that he has repeatedly asked people not to use the term for his movies, although he acknowledged that he cannot control how others describe them.
The Paradise Focuses On Its Telugu Audience
Nani’s latest comments are consistent with his earlier statements about The Paradise. The actor and team have previously said they do not want to position the movie as a pan-Indian project, despite its release in multiple languages. Nani has described The Paradise as a complete Telugu film, with the Telugu audience remaining the primary focus.
He has also said that reaching viewers in Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada remains part of his approach, but without attaching a separate label to the film. The film marks Nani’s reunion with director Srikanth Odela after their 2023 film Dasara. It also features Raghav Juyal, Kayadu Lohar, Mohan Babu and Sampoornesh Babu in key roles.
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Nani’s The Paradise Release Date And Latest Updates
The Paradise is scheduled to release in theatres on September 24, 2026. The action thriller has already received attention following its teaser and songs, while the makers have confirmed that there will be no traditional trailer ahead of the theatrical release.
The film is directed by Srikanth Odela and marks his second collaboration with Nani. Recent reports also state that the film has completed its censor formalities, with an “A” certification and a reported runtime of 2 hours and 49 minutes.
Final Take
Nani’s comments highlight his long-standing preference to let audiences decide how widely a film connects rather than attaching the “pan-India” label in advance. With The Paradise nearing its September 24 release, the actor has once again made it clear that he views it primarily as a Telugu film while remaining open to audiences across languages.
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