Telugu actor Nani has once again made his stance clear on the “pan-India” label, and this time he is pointing to a clear difference in how the term is used. Speaking at a press meet in Chennai on September 17, 2026, ahead of the release of his upcoming film The Paradise, Nani asked why successful Hindi films like Jawan and Pathaan are never given the pan-India tag even when they perform well in southern markets. His comments have started a fresh conversation about how the Indian film industry describes movies that cross language borders.
Nani Questions Why The Tag Is Only For South Films
Nani’s main problem with the “pan-India” label is that it is applied unevenly. He pointed out that when a Hindi film becomes a big hit in the Telugu, Tamil, or Malayalam versions, it is still called a Hindi film. But when a Telugu or Tamil film finds success across the country, it is quickly placed under the pan-India category.
“Don’t call my film pan-Indian, because I ideally don’t want any film to be called pan-Indian. For instance, if a Hindi film becomes a big success in the Telugu, Tamil, or Malayalam versions, it is not called pan-India. It is still called a Hindi film. When we see a Jawan or a Pathaan doing well in Tamil and Telugu, it is not called pan-India. But if a Telugu film does well across the country, it is called a pan-Indian film”.
The actor specifically mentioned Shah Rukh Khan‘s Jawan and Pathaan as examples. Both films were massive hits in 2023 and performed strongly in southern markets, but they were never described as pan-Indian films. Nani’s argument is simple: the term creates a distinction that is not applied equally across the industry.
The Double Standard In Indian Cinema
For Nani, the issue is not about reaching audiences outside his home market. He has always said he wants his films to connect with viewers in Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada. His problem is with the special label that is attached only to films from the South.
“I don’t understand the word pan-Indian. Why is it introduced for the South Indian films? Why isn’t it used for Hindi films? So generally, I’ve always said, for every film, I have said please don’t call my film pan-Indian”.
The term “pan-India cinema” became popular over the last decade after films like Baahubali, KGF, and RRR found huge audiences outside their original language markets. But Nani believes the term is now used too freely and has become more of a marketing tool than a meaningful description.
A Term That Is Overused And Abused
Nani has been speaking against the pan-India label for several weeks. In an earlier statement on September 13, 2026, he called the term “overused and abused”.
“Stop using the term ‘Pan-India’. It’s an overused and abused term. The Paradise will be released in all languages, but our target is mainly the Telugu market”.
His comments have found support from other industry figures. Producer Ravi Shankar Yellamanchili explained that the pan-India ambition can lead to budget problems. A film planned at Rs 50 crore can see its budget increase four to five times once the label is attached, making it much harder to recover the investment.
Actor Rana Daggubati, who was part of the Baahubali franchise that helped popularize the term, has also questioned it. He previously called “pan-India” a “stupid term” while acknowledging that it served a purpose when the industry lacked a clear way to describe regional films making an impact in North India.
Nani’s Deep Connection To Tamil Cinema
The Chennai press meet was not just about the pan-India debate. Nani also spoke warmly about his relationship with Tamil cinema, calling it a major influence on his career.
“Tamil cinema is a Bible for me. My knowledge, love and interest in cinema began here, from watching Kamal sir, Mani sir, Bharathiraja sir, Bhagyaraj sir and many more legends who shaped the way I look at cinema”.
Nani described Chennai as a city that feels like home. He has worked in two direct Tamil films, Veppam and Aaha Kalyanam, though neither was a commercial success. Despite that, he said he still hopes to headline another Tamil film and dreams of working with director Mani Ratnam.
The Paradise Release Details And Cast
The Paradise is Nani’s second collaboration with director Srikanth Odela after their 2023 hit Dasara. The film is produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the SLV Cinemas banner.
The cast includes Kayadu Lohar, Raghav Juyal, Mohan Babu, and Sampoornesh Babu in key roles. Music for the film is composed by Anirudh Ravichander.
The film is set to release in theatres on September 24, 2026, in eight languages: Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, English, and Spanish. The release date was initially set for March 2026, then moved to August, before finally being confirmed for September 24.
Nani also confirmed that the film will not have a theatrical trailer. He explained that the team decided to skip the trailer because they wanted to focus on delivering a quality film rather than spending time cutting a trailer.
“We don’t have time to cut a trailer because it takes nearly four to five days for director Srikanth and music director Anirudh to come up with a good trailer. We are working to give a quality film, so we decided not to release a trailer”.
The film’s censor formalities have been completed, though the team is yet to receive the official certificate.
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Nani’s Message On Language And Recognition
Nani’s argument goes beyond just the pan-India tag. He believes every language deserves credit for its cinema. He used RRR and Kantara as examples, asking whether it would be right to describe those films as belonging to another language simply because they found audiences there. In a social media post, he wrote, “In the same context, I want The Paradise to be RECOGNISED as a Telugu film”.
His position is clear: he wants his films to reach as many people as possible, but he does not want a label that suggests a South Indian film has achieved something exceptional merely by finding viewers outside its original language. The actor admitted he cannot control how others describe his films, but he will continue to make his request.
“I can’t stop people from using it, but the phrase does not make sense to me. I will always try to reach out to my Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada audiences. This will always be the process, but I don’t want them to use those tags on my films”.
Also Read: Nani Says Tamil Nadu Did Not Vote for CM Vijay Because of Box Office Numbers
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