Nani has revealed that he was already impressed by Raghav Juyal’s work before the two actors came together for The Paradise. The Telugu star recalled watching Raghav’s performance in Kill and discussing the actor’s contribution with his friends and cousins long before director Srikanth Odela approached him for the upcoming film.
Nani’s admiration became particularly relevant when Odela described Raghav as the villain in Kill while narrating the antagonist’s role in The Paradise. The actor immediately connected with the casting choice, having already followed Raghav’s work.
Nani Was Impressed By Raghav Juyal In Kill
Nani said Raghav’s performance in Kill had made a strong impression on him. He recalled spending nearly an hour discussing the nuances of the actor’s work with friends and cousins and said he understood the contribution Raghav had made to the Hindi action film.
“I know what role he played in its success,” Nani said, adding that he knew why audiences talked about Kill and how much Raghav contributed to the film. Interestingly, Nani had never shared this admiration with Srikanth Odela. During the narration of The Paradise, however, the filmmaker independently brought up Raghav while explaining the antagonist, calling him the perfect casting after referring to his role in Kill.
Nani Had One Question About Raghav’s Telugu Debut
Although Nani was excited about Raghav joining The Paradise, he did have one concern. Raghav was entering Telugu cinema with the film, and Nani wondered whether performing in a language different from his own could affect the spontaneity and smaller nuances that had stood out in his Kill performance. The question was answered once filming began. Nani said Raghav did much more than simply learn and deliver his Telugu dialogues. He became involved in the details of his scenes and brought his own approach to the character.
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Raghav Juyal Did More Than Nani Expected
Nani said his initial concerns disappeared from the first day of filming. According to the actor, Raghav went beyond what he had previously seen from him in Hindi cinema. “From day one, when I met him and we started shooting, he did so much with it,” Nani said, adding that Raghav did “even more than he had done in Hindi”
The comments also highlight the transition Raghav has made with The Paradise. After gaining wider attention for his performance in Kill, he is now taking on an antagonist in a Telugu-language film directed by Srikanth Odela.
The Paradise Arrives In Theatres On September 24
The Paradise stars Nani in the lead role, with Raghav Juyal playing the antagonist. The film marks Raghav’s Telugu debut and reunites Nani with Srikanth Odela after their earlier collaboration, Dasara. It is scheduled to release worldwide on September 24, 2026.
The makers have followed an unconventional promotional strategy, choosing not to release a traditional theatrical trailer. The film has instead been promoted through its teaser and songs, while several story details have remained under wraps.
Final Take
Nani’s comments reveal that his interest in Raghav Juyal’s casting came from watching Kill well before their collaboration on The Paradise. While he initially wondered how Raghav’s performance style would translate into Telugu, Nani says the actor ultimately brought even more to the role.
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