Akhil Akkineni is finally enjoying success with his latest film Lenin, which has become an important turning point in his career. The film has been praised for showing the actor in a completely new avatar, leaving behind his usual urban image to play a rugged village character. After facing disappointment with his previous film Agent, the success of Lenin has come as a huge relief. During a recent appearance on the Raw Talks with VK podcast, Akhil made a surprising confession about Agent, admitting that he knew the film was heading towards failure even before it was released. He also revealed that the experience left him deeply disappointed with his own performance.
Speaking honestly about the film, Akhil said he believes a movie succeeds only when every department works together. However, he added that even if a film fails, an actor should still be able to take pride in their own work. Looking back at Agent, he admitted he could not do that. Akhil said he realised something was wrong after watching the early edits and several scenes during production. He confessed that he had serious doubts about the film but continued working because he felt it was his responsibility to give his best. According to him, he had even told his close friends before the release that he feared the movie would not work at the box office.
The actor explained that he never wanted to give up because he also felt responsible for the producers who had invested a huge amount of money in the project. Akhil said filmmaking is not just about an actor’s career but also about protecting the dreams and investments of everyone involved. He believed that if he noticed problems, he should work even harder instead of walking away. Even though the film eventually failed, he has no regrets about giving it his full commitment. He also added that the phase of making films in that style is now over and he has learned valuable lessons from the experience.
Released in 2023, Agent was directed by Surender Reddy and featured Mammootty, Dino Morea, Sakshi Vaidya, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Vikramjeet Virk alongside Akhil. The high budget spy thriller was released with massive expectations but failed to impress audiences and reportedly earned less than ₹15 crore worldwide. The setback came after Akhil had spent months undergoing a physical transformation for the demanding role.
After taking a three year break from films, Akhil returned with Lenin, directed by Murali Kishor Abburu. The film, produced by Nagarjuna Akkineni and Suryadevara Naga Vamsi, has marked a successful comeback for the actor. Also starring Bhagyashri Borse, Ramki, Sivaji, Sunil, Brahmaji and Easwari Rao, Lenin has received positive reviews from audiences and has grossed more than ₹60 crore worldwide since its release on July 10. The film has not only given Akhil his biggest success in recent years but has also restored confidence in his career after the disappointment of Agent.