The Telugu film industry was shocked when one of its most senior and influential actors, Nandamuri Balakrishna, made a statement in a media interaction during IIFA 2024. It was widely taken as a dig at his nephew and actor, Jr. NTR. The comment came during a red carpet media interaction when he was asked about the successors of Nandamuri legacy in the industry and without any hesitation, he said, “My son, my grandson…..Who else is there?”
This statement did not go unnoticed. Fans immediately perceived it as a subtle ignorance of Jr NTR’s place in the Nandamuri family’s legacy, despite Jr. NTR being one of the finest actors of his generation and the grandson of Sr. NTR.
Jr NTR’s fans expressed disappointment on this statement
The Nandamuri family is one of the most prominent families in Telugu cinema and in politics. Considering Jr. NTR’s contribution to Indian cinema with hit films like Devara, Temper, Simhadri, RRR and more, this dismissal came out as intentional and hurtful, especially because Jr. NTR is Balakrishna’s nephew and a direct successor.
Social media was soon filled with disappointing reactions. The fans felt that this ignorance of Jr. NTR by Balakrishna was not a mistake, but was intentional. Fans also felt that despite the nationwide respect and love Jr. NTR gets, he was still being treated as an outsider by his own family. This ignorance definitely struck a nerve, because Jr. NTR has never publicly disrespected or distanced himself from the family name.
Long-running tensions between Jr. NTR and Balakrishna
This was not the first time there has been a conflict between Balakrishna and Jr. NTR. Their paths have seemed distant for decades. In 2009, Jr. NTR was seen actively campaigning for Telugu Desam Part (TDP) and was considered a young face which could help, but after a serious car accident, he slowly started stepping back. Balakrishna remained involved and eventually became the MLA of Hindupur. With time, Jr. NTR was seen at major family events or TDP functions, including the release of Sr. NTR’s biopic. This led to talks about the growing tension within the family.
This gap further increased in 2023, when Jr. NTR chose to be silent over the arrest of TDP chief, N. Chandrababu Naidu. When asked about this silence during a press conference, Balakrishna said “I don’t care”, eventually confirming the rumours of tension between them. Then, Balakrishna’s statement on successors added to the rumours.
Jr. NTR rose to fame without the support of his family
Jr. NTR, even though came from a strong family background, built his own path in the film industry without relying on a family push, unlike many other star kids who wait to get launched with a big project and constant family promotions.
He made his acting debut as a child artist with the 1991 film Brahmarshi Viswamitra, but later his true break as a lead actor came with the 2001 film Ninnu Choodalani, which did not perform well at the box office. But, his breakthrough moment came in the same year with Student No.1, directed by SS Rajamouli. This blockbuster film marked the beginning of one of the most successful actor-director duos.
Over time, Jr. NTR went from an ordinary hero to an internationally recognised star, through his hard work and collaboration with great directors. His personal and professional development, from overcoming early criticism to achieving global prominence with RRR, was self-motivated and unaccompanied by family support. Today, he is known as one of India’s most respected actors, proving that respect needs to be earned, it cannot be inherited.
Jr. NTR Congratulated Balakrishna on the Padma Bhushan Award
Amidst all the rumors around their family feud, Jr. NTR did something which surprised his fans in a good way. In January 2025, Balakrishna was honoured with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to cinema and public service. Jr. NTR took to his social media to congratulate him, by saying,
“Heartiest congratulations to Bala Babai on being honoured with the prestigious Padma Bhushan award. This recognition is a testament to your unparalleled contributions to cinema and your relentless public service.”
This gesture was completely unexpected especially with the rumors going around, but it was positively welcomed by the fans, hoping that it indicated an improvement in their relationship.
The silence from Jr. NTR has been consistent, he has never chosen to speak anything against his family and whenever possible, he has always called NTR his inspiration. Yet, Balakrishna’s statement at the IIFA 2024, added a layer to long standing tensions within the family.
What are your thoughts on the statement made by Balakrishna?
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