After Thandel, Naga Chaitanya Reflects on Career Turnaround in 2025

After a run of box-office disappointments with films such as Custody and Thank You, actor Naga Chaitanya has seen a decisive turnaround in his career with the success of Thandel.

The film marked a major milestone for the actor, becoming his first ₹100-crore grosser and making 2025 one of the most significant years of his professional life. The resurgence builds on the positive response to his OTT debut Dhootha in 2023, with both projects helping reposition him after a difficult phase.

Reflecting on the period, Chaitanya described 2025 as a “significant year” for his career. Thandel not only crossed ₹100 crore worldwide, but also generated buzz on the digital front after Netflix acquired its streaming rights for a reported ₹40 crore — the highest OTT deal of his career.

Released in theatres on February 7, Thandelstars Naga Chaitanya alongside Sai Pallavi, Aadukalam Naren, Divya Pillai, Karunakaran, Kalpa Latha and Babloo Prithiveeraj. The film is now streaming on Netflix.

Inspired by real events, the film follows Raju, a fisherman who accidentally strays into Pakistani waters while at sea. His journey, and his relationship with Bujji Thalli (Sai Pallavi), form the emotional core of the story.

Chaitanya will next be seen in the tentatively titled NC24, reportedly one of the biggest-budget films of his career. Directed by Virupaksha and Kartikeya filmmaker Karthik Varma Dandu, the project features a story written by Sukumar and is produced by BVSN Prasad, Sukumar and Bapineedu.

Personal life
On the personal front, Naga Chaitanya married actor Sobhita Dhulipala in a traditional Telugu wedding ceremony on December 4, 2024, at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad. The couple later made their first public appearance together during a visit to the Srisailam Temple in Andhra Pradesh.