Naga Chaitanya’s recent portrayal in ‘Thandel’ earned him the Best Actor (Telugu) award at the Indian National Cinema Academy Awards. He expressed deep gratitude for the film, which brought the stories of Srikakulam fishermen to life and became a massive box office success. The actor also acknowledged the director, cast, and crew for their contributions to this memorable project.
Tollywood star Naga Chaitanya was last seen in the romance adventure drama, ‘Thandel’, starring opposite Sai Pallavi. It turned out to be a massive hit and one of the most memorable films in the actor’s career, as it not only dominated the box office but also added personal accolades.
Recently, Naga Chaitanya was honoured with the Indian National Cinema Academy Award.
Naga Chaitanya talks about ‘Thandel’
As per a report by Cine Express, Naga Chaitanya won the Best Actor (Telugu) award at the first-ever Indian National Cinema Academy (INCA) Awards held in Mumbai. During the event, the ‘Lal Singh Chadda’ actor also talked about what the film and the character Raju mean to him. “Every film and every character gives you something, and Thandel is that film for me.
The character of Thandel Raju has taught me a lot. Bringing the stories of fishermen from Srikakulam to life has been a memorable journey.
These experiences will stay with me forever,” he said.He also shared his gratitude with the director, cast and the entire team, as he said, “I would like to thank my director Chandoo Mondeti, producer Allu Aravind garu, Bunny Vasu garu, Sai Pallavi, DSP, and the entire team. Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible.”
Earlier, Naga Chaitanya won the Best Actor award at the recently held Telangana Gaddar Film Awards for ‘Thandel’.
About ‘Thandel’
The film, directed by Chandoo Mondeti, is based on a true story about Indian fishermen from Andhra Pradesh who were caught by Pakistan authorities and kept in jail for 22 years. Upon its theatrical release in February 2025, the film minted over Rs 100 crore, marking his first film in the 100 crore club.
Naga Chaitanya’s next
On the current work front, Naga Chaitanya is now working with director Karthik Dandu. It features Meenakshi Chaudhary and Sparsh Shrivastava, famous for ‘Laapataa Ladies,’ in key roles.
