Nani reacts at Salman Khan's remark about Bollywood films in south: "Bina chale kaise superstar ban gaye"

In a recent wave of promotional interviews, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan made headlines with a bold remark about the reach of Hindi films in the South Indian market. While promoting his upcoming film Sikandar, Salman candidly expressed that despite the popularity of South Indian stars and their films in the North, Hindi films often don’t receive the same kind of love down South. However, this statement didn’t go unaddressed for long.

Popular South actor Nani, who is currently busy with promotions for his action thriller directed by Sailesh Kolanu, shared his views during a conversation with DNA India. Reacting to Salman’s comment, Nani politely but firmly disagreed, shedding light on the long-standing admiration for Bollywood cinema in the South.

He pointed out how deeply rooted Hindi films have been in the hearts of South Indian audiences for decades. “That (Hindi cinema) is original; this (South cinema) came later. The love Bollywood has received in the South has been there for decades,” Nani said. He recalled how classics like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Dil Toh Pagal Hai were massive hits in cities like Hyderabad and how films featuring legends like Amitabh Bachchan shaped childhood memories across the region.

Responding directly to Salman’s perception that Hindi films don’t get the same traction, Nani stated, “Nahi, waha nahi chale? Bina chale kaise superstar ban gaye? 100% chalti hai.” He went on to mention that movies like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! are culturally significant in the South, with songs like Didi Tera Devar Deewana being wedding staples even today. He added that South audiences have always loved Salman and continue to enjoy his work.

On the other hand, Salman had earlier remarked that while South Indian films receive huge support from North Indian fans, the reverse isn't true. “When my film is released there, it doesn’t get the numbers... Their films do well because we go and see them,” he had said.

Meanwhile, Nani is all set to captivate audiences with his new action-packed film releasing on May 1. Featuring Srinidhi Shetty alongside him, the movie also stars Adil Pala, Rao Ramesh, Brahmaji, and Maganti Srinath.