For Naga Chaitanya, 2025 has turned out to be nothing short of transformative. After facing a string of underwhelming theatrical outings with films like Custody and Thank You, the actor has finally found his long-awaited career breakthrough with Thandel. The film marked a major milestone by becoming Chaitanya’s first-ever ₹100 crore grosser, firmly re-establishing him as a bankable star.
The turnaround began in 2023 with his successful OTT debut Dhootha, which received strong appreciation and opened new doors for the actor. However, it was Thandel that truly changed the game. Reflecting on the year, Naga Chaitanya described 2025 as a “significant year” in his career. Speaking to HT, he said, “Thandel in theatres and Dhootha on streaming marked a meaningful shift in my career.”
Released in theatres on February 7, Thandel went on to gross over ₹100 crore worldwide. The success didn’t stop there. The film’s OTT release also became a talking point after Netflix acquired the streaming rights for a reported ₹40 crore — the highest OTT deal of Chaitanya’s career to date. The film is now available for streaming on the platform, further expanding its reach.
Directed by Chandoo Mondeti, Thandel stars Sai Pallavi as the female lead, alongside Aadukalam Naren, Divya Pillai, Karunakaran, Kalpa Latha, Babloo Prithiveeraj, and others in key roles. Based on a real-life incident, the story follows Raju, a brave fisherman who accidentally crosses into Pakistani waters along with fellow villagers. His emotional journey balances his deep love for fishing with his romance with Bujji Thalli, played by Sai Pallavi.
Looking ahead, Naga Chaitanya is gearing up for his next ambitious project, tentatively titled NC24. Reportedly one of the highest-budget films of his career, the project will showcase him in an entirely new avatar. The film is directed by Virupaksha and Kartikeya fame Karthik Varma Dandu, with Sukumar writing the story. It is produced by BVSN Prasad, Sukumar, and Bapineedu.
On the personal front, Naga Chaitanya tied the knot with actress Sobhita Dhulipala on December 4, 2024, in a traditional Telugu wedding ceremony at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad. The couple later made their first public appearance together during a visit to the Srisailam Temple in Andhra Pradesh.