As the year draws to a close, actor Nagarjuna Akkineni looks back at 2025 with a profound sense of fulfillment. The celebrated star describes the past twelve months as 'very, very satisfying' on both personal and professional fronts, marking a period of significant family milestones and career evolution.
A Year of Personal Joy and Family Settlements
For Nagarjuna, the greatest happiness of 2025 stemmed from his family. He expressed immense relief and joy seeing both his sons embark on their marital journeys. His younger son, Akhil Akkineni, tied the knot with his partner, and the actor notes that the couple is deeply happy together. The celebrations continued as his elder son, Chaitanya Akkineni, completed one year of married life on December 24th.
The National Award-winning artist shared that witnessing his sons settle into their married lives is a major personal relief. 'Everyone has to go through their share of upheavals. I am glad my sons have found their happiness,' he remarked, highlighting the personal contentment that defined his year.
Professional Highs: From 'Kubera' to a Landmark Villain Role
On the work front, 2025 was equally rewarding. Nagarjuna kicked off the year with the film 'Kubera', which presented the exciting opportunity to collaborate with actor Dhanush for the first time. He fondly recalls the experience, stating it was a joy to work with someone where there was no sense of professional threat, only creative synergy.
However, the later release, 'Coolie', held special significance. The film not only paired him with Tamil cinema icon Rajinikanth for the first time but also marked a major career turning point. In 'Coolie', Nagarjuna stepped into the shoes of a villain for the first time in his extensive career.
His character, Simon, has since become a metaphorical benchmark, with other filmmakers now approaching him to play similar antagonist roles. While he is open to the idea of playing a villain again, the actor admits, 'I am happy being the good guy.' He also shared hopeful news about his son Akhil's career, mentioning that the latter has a film lined up for release in 2026 which is shaping up well.
Iconic Re-release and the Road to 100 Films
2025 also witnessed the successful re-release of his iconic 1990 film, 'Shiva'. The actor was overwhelmed by the response, particularly from a new generation of audiences. 'What an impact it made! It reconnected with the youth, the Gen Z, just as it had connected thirty years ago with youngsters,' he said. He acknowledged that alongside 'Geethanjali', 'Shiva' remains one of his most influential and globally recognized works.
Looking ahead, Nagarjuna is gearing up for a landmark moment—his 100th film release in 2026. He revealed that the team is in no rush and aims to make this project something truly special. Described as a family film infused with action, it will feature his character along with his on-screen wife and daughter. The film will be directed by Ra Karthik, marking his feature film debut after an OTT series. Nagarjuna expressed his openness to collaborating with new talent, ending the year on a note of anticipation and continued passion for cinema.
