“Allu Arjun Made It Big, You Didn’t” – Dil Raju to Nithiin

Producer Dil Raju has been winning appreciation from both the audience and the industry for his candid take on long-standing manipulative practices in the business. In a rare moment of honesty, Raju recently admitted to resorting to inorganic YouTube views and inflated box office posters in the past, pledging publicly that he would no longer engage in such tactics going forward. His honesty has earned widespread support from both audiences and filmmakers, with Raju expressing hope that more members of the industry will join his vision for greater transparency.

As his upcoming production Thammudu, starring Nithiin, gears up for its theatrical release on July 4th, Dil Raju and his team have been aggressively promoting the film across digital platforms. As part of the campaign, Raju and Nithiin sat down for a candid interview reflecting on their 22-year professional journey that began with their breakout film Dil. The 2003 romantic drama not only marked a turning point for Nithiin’s career but also earned Raju the “Dil” tag that has stayed with him ever since.

During the conversation, Nithiin asked Raju to share his observations, both positive and negative — from their two-decade association. “You have one year more experience than me, you’re technically my senior,” Raju joked. “You’ve learned how to face hardships and bounce back, and that experience reflects in your career. But when I was producing Dil with you and Arya with Allu Arjun, I genuinely believed both of you would become much bigger stars by now. While you’re certainly a star, I feel you haven’t reached the level of stardom you were destined for.”

To his credit, Nithiin took the feedback in a positive way, showing the same down-to-earth attitude he’s known for. Many among the audience also felt it was good to see him take the comments sportively and stay open to learning and improving.

Known for his self-deprecating humor, Nithiin even joked about whether Thammudu would be the film to change that trajectory. Raju predicted the film will be a success but admitted it may not be the defining moment for Nithiin’s stardom. However, both expressed confidence that Yellamma, Nithiin’s upcoming film directed by Balagam filmmaker Venu Yeldandi and also backed by Dil Raju, could be a turning point in his career.

Dil Raju’s outspoken remarks on industry malpractices, combined with his transparency and belief in fresh talent, have further cemented his reputation as one of the most influential and increasingly respected voices in Telugu cinema.