Nani, along with Kayadu Lohar, Raghav Juyal and Sonali Kulkarni, recently attended a press conference in Mumbai ahead of the theatrical release of The Paradise. During the media interaction, the actor opened up about the massive slum sets created for the film, the demanding shooting conditions and the extensive effort that went into bringing director Srikanth Odela’s vision to life. With comparisons being drawn between the scale of the sets and films like Baahubali, Nani was quick to clarify that the film may not be on that scale, but the effort behind it was something that could not easily be measured.
“It’s not on the scale of Baahubali or anything like that,” Nani said, while explaining the challenges faced by the team. “But... well, the effort the team members put in—it’s hard to quantify. Given the setup we created and the time invested—especially by the 'Paradise' team on the set—it’s impossible to truly measure the effort in standard terms; it was incredibly complex. There were no clean, comfortable locations where we could just sit back and relax; it was extremely difficult for us.” The actor further stressed that working in such locations demanded much more from everyone involved, adding that the conditions were tougher than a conventional film set.
Nani also took a moment to praise his co-star Sonali Kulkarni for her dedication during the shoot. “What Sonali Ma'am did for this film—working in those locations without a single complaint, standing deep in water—and not just clean water, but dirty, muddy water—for hours on end... it wasn't just an hour or two,” he said. “The sheer hard work the actors put into this film is incomparable.” According to Nani, the cast and crew were willing to push themselves because of their faith in the material. “I think that dedication stemmed from our deep belief in the script, in Srikanth, and in the entire team; we poured our hearts and souls into it. I truly hope you all love the film.”
The conversation also turned towards the film’s ‘A’ certificate and the 21 changes reportedly demanded by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and whether the certification could affect the movie’s audience reach. Nani acknowledged that an ‘A’ certificate naturally means certain sections of the audience, particularly children, will not be able to watch the film in theatres. “Of course, with an 'A' certificate, you inevitably miss out on kids and a certain segment of moviegoers,” he said. At the same time, the actor explained that he understood why the decision had been taken, given the film’s violent content. “A film is an experience, but I also understand where the decision comes from; obviously, there is a lot of violence.”
However, Nani was keen to distinguish The Paradise from films where violence is the primary attraction. “However, while there are films today that focus entirely on violence—violence for the sake of violence—'Paradise' isn't like that,” he said. Describing the film further, he added, “It’s a solid drama—an emotional film, a commercial film that everyone will relate to, regardless of age group. Families can watch it together; you can go with your parents. You’ll enjoy it thoroughly, though perhaps very young children might not be able to watch it because there is a fair amount of violence.” He explained that despite the higher violence quotient, the film remains rooted in realistic situations, emotions and mainstream storytelling. “Even though the events in the film are realistic—things we see and relate to—and it’s a proper drama featuring emotions, a love story, and all the usual elements of mainstream cinema, the violence quotient is a bit higher than in other films.”
When asked whether the team had hoped for a UA certificate instead, Nani revealed that they had anticipated the possibility of an ‘A’ certificate from the very beginning. “No, no—we were prepared for that right from the time of shooting,” he said. The Paradise is scheduled for a grand theatrical release on September 24, 2026.
Directed by Srikanth Odela, the film marks Nani’s second collaboration with the filmmaker after their blockbuster Dasara. Set in 1980s Secunderabad, the raw action thriller follows a marginalised tribe fighting systemic discrimination and struggling for citizenship under an unexpected leader, with Nani portraying the larger-than-life and intensely raw character Jadal.