Nagarjuna Akkineni says films need strong content to succeed, not star power

NewsentertainmenttelugumoviesNagarjuna Akkineni says films need strong content to succeed, not star power, shares 'King 100' update and advises on VFX quality at 'Itlu Arjuna' success meet Nagarjuna Akkineni says films need strong content to succeed, not star power, shares 'King 100' update and advises on VFX quality at 'Itlu Arjuna' success meet TOI Entertainment Desk / etimes.in / Nov 15, 2026, 13:08 IST Telugu actor Nagarjuna Akkineni shared his views on how a movie can be considered successful based on the quality of its content and technical aspects.

His comments came at the success meet of 'Itlu Arjuna,' which he presented. The actor also spoke about the need to give filmmakers enough time to improve their films' quality, especially regarding visual effects.

Responding to a question about his association with the film, Nagarjuna made it clear that a familiar name or a star's support alone cannot guarantee success at the box office.Why did Nagarjuna present Itlu Arjuna? Actor explains his decisionDirected by Mahesh Uppala, 'Itlu Arjuna' marks the acting debut of Aneesh, son of producer Mahesh Reddy.

Anaswara Rajan plays the female lead in the film, which released in theatres on November 13. The team recently organised a success meet in Hyderabad, where Nagarjuna appreciated the cast and crew. During the media interaction, a journalist asked whether he presented the film because Aneesh was his friend's son or because he liked its content.

Answering the question, as reported by Namasthe Telengana, Nagarjuna said, "They showed me the content of the film and approached me. Just because he is my friend's son, my involvement will not make the film successful.

Many people are promoting films like that. But have all those films become hits? That is not how it works. A film succeeds only when it has good content, not because of who presents it."Nagarjuna advises filmmakers to give more time to VFX and technical workThe actor also addressed the growing criticism of visual effects in Telugu films.

According to him, people can easily detect bad VFX and even start wondering whether some sequences were shot through AI. He advised filmmakers to complete their films well ahead of the release date so that they have enough time for corrections and improvements.

"Finish the film at least two months before its release. Then, you can take a film that is at 75 per cent and improve it to 150 per cent.Join conversation You will have enough time to work on it. Money can always be spent, but take time to make the technical work excellent," he suggested.Nagarjuna's upcoming 'King 100' gears up for Christmas releaseMeanwhile, Nagarjuna is preparing for the release of his landmark 100th film, 'King 100'.

Directed by Ra. Karthik, the film is a rags-to-riches drama with a father-daughter relationship at its centre. The shoot is almost complete, with one song and some patchwork remaining. Nagarjuna has also revealed that the team is working on corrections suggested by him, with the first copy expected by the end of November.Produced by Annapurna Studios, the film features Tabu, Aishwarya Rajesh, Sushmitha Bhatt, Vijayendra and Ashok Selvan in key roles.

Devi Sri Prasad is composing the music. 'King 100' is scheduled to release in theatres on December 24, 2026. Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app. Give your child the gift of confidence!

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