At the Gaddar Awards 2025, Naga Chaitanya scored a massive achievement by winning the Best Actor award for his heart-touching performance in Thandel. Adding to the celebration, the romantic patriotic film also bagged the Best National Integration Film award, making it a proud double victory for the team.
Directed by Chandoo Mondeti, Thandel depicted Naga Chaitanya in the powerful rural role of ‘Thandel Raju’, a character that demanded strong emotional depth and a grounded performance. Chay impressed audiences and critics alike with his authentic portrayal, which is now being hailed as one of the finest performances of his career.
The film’s win as Best National Integration Film further highlights its strong thematic core. Thandel explores themes of unity, humanity, and cultural identity, allowing the story to connect with audiences beyond regional boundaries.
Earlier, Allu Arjun received recognition as Best Actor for Pushpa 2, and now Naga Chaitanya has joined Icon Star to achieve the Telangana state honour. This double recognition at the Gaddar Awards 2025 not only celebrates the Akkineni actor’s performance but also highlights the impact and relevance of Thandel as a film.
It’s worth noting that Thandel is the biggest grosser in Naga Chaitanya’s career. The movie is based on the lives of a few Andhra fishermen who got caught by the Pakistani navy as they mistakenly entered the neighbouring country’s waters and ended up in Karachi jail for two years. Sai Pallavi played the female lead.