Kannada producer Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah has accused Telugu actor Nani and the makers of Hi Nanna of copying his film Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja. He alleged that the 2023 Telugu film was made without securing the remake rights of his 2020 Kannada film.
In a now-deleted Instagram story, Mallikarjunaiah criticized Nani and the film’s team, calling their actions a “cheap thing to do.” He shared posters of both films and wrote, “Without taking remake rights, Hi Nanna has been made by copying our original movie Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja. What a cheap thing to do, @nameisnani.”
Despite the serious allegation, Nani and director Shouryuv have not responded to the claims.
About Hi Nanna and Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja
Hi Nanna (2023)
Hi Nanna is a romantic drama starring Nani, Mrunal Thakur, and Kiara Khanna. The film follows the emotional journey of a single father struggling to care for his sick daughter. Things take a turn when a mysterious woman enters their lives.
Directed by Shouryuv and produced by Vyra Entertainments, the film received positive reviews for its emotional depth and strong performances. It was also dubbed into Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. After a successful box-office run, the movie started streaming on Netflix in January 2024.
Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja (2020)
Released on Amazon Prime Video, Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja is directed by Karthik Saragur and produced by Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah, Rakshit Shetty, and Hemanth M Rao.
The film, which revolves around six flavors of taste—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent, tells the story of a chef narrating his love story to a stranger. It stars Aravinnd Iyer, Aarohi Narayan, Priyanka, Aadya, and Achyut Kumar.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it skipped a theatrical release and premiered directly on Amazon Prime Video as part of the Great Indian Festival.
Nani’s Upcoming Film – HIT 3
While Hi Nanna faces controversy, Nani’s fans are excited about his next film, HIT 3. On New Year’s Day, a new poster of Nani as Arjun Sarkaar was unveiled, showcasing him in a salt-and-pepper look.
Directed by Sailesh Kolanu, HIT 3 is part of the popular HIT franchise and is set for a May 2025 release.
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