- Tuesday, February 11, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Naga Chaitanya is eagerly anticipating a hit with his upcoming film Thandel, directed by Chandoo Mondeti. Ahead of its theatrical release on Friday (7), the actor joined co-star Sai Pallavi for a Q&A session, where he candidly addressed fan questions, including one about his acting skills.
During the session, Sai Pallavi asked him, “Acting epudu nerchukuntav? (When will you learn acting?)” Chaitanya momentarily stared blankly at the camera before responding, “Epudu nerchukuntav enti? (What do you mean when will I learn?)” He then smiled and explained that acting is a continuous learning process with no fixed endpoint. “If an actor stops growing, there is no progress or future in the industry. I am still learning and improving every day.”
Fans appreciated his honest response, with one commenting, “So glad that Chay took that acting question. At least he knows that his acting is not up to the mark and he is working on it rather than being in denial mode.” Another user wrote, “Very matured answer for the question.”
Naga Chaitanya also opened up about the challenges of filming on the open sea, recalling a humorous yet intense moment when the crew was briefly detained by the navy in Kerala during a shoot. Despite the difficulties, early reactions to Thandel highlight his authentic portrayal of the Srikakulam dialect and strong on-screen presence.
Sai Pallavi, known for her emotional depth, is also being praised for her performance, with many citing their on-screen chemistry as a major highlight.
While some viewers feel certain plot points in Thandel are repetitive, overall, the film is described as a blend of love, sorrow, and patriotism.
Chaitanya’s last two films, Thank You (2022) and Custody (2023), didn’t perform well at the box office. He also made his Bollywood debut with Laal Singh Chaddha (2022) alongside Aamir Khan, but the film had a lukewarm reception. However, his 2023 web series Dhootha on Prime Video received positive reviews, proving his versatility.
Thandel marks his third collaboration with director Chandoo Mondeti after Premam and Savyasachi, and his second film with Sai Pallavi after Love Story. Fans are eagerly waiting to see if this project turns out to be the box office success he has been hoping for.
