February 13, 205: Actors Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, along with director Chandoo Mondeti and producer Allu Aravind, visited the famous Tirupati temple on Thursday to seek blessings from Lord Venkateswara for their latest film, Thandel. The visit comes after the film’s impressive opening at the box office.
A large crowd gathered at the temple to catch a glimpse of the stars, who were dressed in traditional outfits with red cloth draped around their shoulders. The team was seen posing for pictures and sharing a few moments with their fans.
Naga Chaitanya took a moment to express his admiration for his co-star Sai Pallavi. He shared how much he enjoys working with her, praising her on-screen energy. “It’s been a great experience. Working with Pallavi is always a pleasure as she brings so much energy to the screen. She complements my performance in so many ways, so it has been a wonderful experience,” he said.
Chaitanya also opened up about the preparations he made for his role in Thandel. He revealed how the transformation required both physical and mental preparation. “The physical transformation had to happen with the hair, beard, and the kind of skin tan the fishermen have. Apart from this, I had to work on the Srikakulam dialect and body language. There is a dance sequence with Sai Pallavi, so it also involved a lot of rehearsals and workshops for that,” he explained.
Thandel tells the gripping story of fishermen who accidentally drift into Pakistani waters during one of their trips. The film marks Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi’s second collaboration, after their successful pairing in Love Story. Produced by Bunny Vasu under the Geetha Arts banner, with Allu Aravind presenting the film, Thandel was released on February 7, 2025, and has garnered a positive response from audiences.