Nani, along with Kayadu Lohar, Raghav Juyal and Sonali Kulkarni, recently hosted a press conference in Mumbai ahead of the release of The Paradise. For Kayadu, the event held special significance as she brought the film to Mumbai for the first time. During the media interaction, the actor spoke warmly about her experience of working with Nani, praising his humility, generosity and willingness to guide her during challenging moments on set. She also opened up about director Srikanth Odela’s unique working style and the passion he brought to the highly ambitious project.
Talking about sharing the screen with Nani, Kayadu said, “Nani has been an amazing co-star and incredibly supportive on set. There were times when I got stuck on my lines or struggled with certain scenes, but you always offered solutions and techniques that made me think, ‘Oh, okay’—that’s where his experience really shows.” The actor said Nani’s approach to his work left a strong impression on her, particularly because of the humility with which he carries himself despite his stature in the industry.
Kayadu went on to highlight what she found inspiring about Nani beyond his acting. “He is such a humble person; coming from a very simple background, he carries himself with such humility on set. Despite being such a huge star, the first day I saw him on set, he was just sitting quietly in a corner, attending to his own work. That was truly inspiring,” she shared. Expressing her gratitude for the experience, Kayadu added, “Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience with me. I am so glad I got to work on Paradise with you.” Her comments reflect the collaborative atmosphere she experienced while working alongside the Natural Star.
Speaking about The Paradise, Kayadu revealed that the Mumbai promotional event was particularly meaningful for her. “I have come to Mumbai with my film for the first time, so it is incredibly special. Paradise is a very special film; we have put a tremendous amount of hard work and effort into it,” she said. While acknowledging the growing popularity of South Indian cinema across the country, she believes the film has the potential to connect with audiences beyond language and regional boundaries. “We know that South Indian films receive a lot of love here, but this film transcends language and regional boundaries,” Kayadu said.
The actor further described the film as a combination of commercial entertainment and strong emotional storytelling. “It features all the commercial elements one expects in a movie, yet it is driven by deep emotion and storytelling—you will find it truly entertaining,” she said. Kayadu also had plenty of praise for director Srikanth Odela, whose second collaboration with Nani comes after their successful film Dasara. Describing the filmmaker’s personality and creative approach, she said, “As for Srikanth Sir—I think he is a wonderfully crazy, eccentric director. He is one of the most unique directors I’ve worked with. Yet, he brings immense passion to his work, and I believe that passion and hard work really shine through in the film.”
The Paradise is an upcoming raw, dark action-thriller starring Nani as the larger-than-life and intensely raw character Jadal. Directed by Srikanth Odela, the film marks the second collaboration between the actor-director duo after Dasara. Set in 1980s Secunderabad, the story follows a marginalised tribe battling systemic discrimination as they fight for their citizenship under an unexpected leader. With Kayadu Lohar, Raghav Juyal and Sonali Kulkarni also part of the cast, The Paradise is scheduled for a grand theatrical release on September 24, 2026.