On October 10, 2025, coinciding with SS Rajamouli's 52nd birthday, Jr NTR extended his heartfelt wishes to the acclaimed director, dispelling rumors of a rift between them. This comes amidst reports that Jr NTR has stepped away from a Dadasaheb Phalke biopic purportedly produced by SS Rajamouli but directed by his son, Karthik Rajamouli.
Jr NTR took to X (formerly Twitter) to wish "Jakkana" (as SS Rajamouli is fondly called) a happy birthday. He shared a behind-the-scenes photo from the sets of their blockbuster movie RRR, capturing a lighthearted moment between the two. The message accompanying the photo read, "Wishing you a very Happy Birthday Jakkana @ssrajamouli!! Loads of love," followed by a heart emoticon.
Reports have suggested that Jr NTR's departure from the Dadasaheb Phalke biopic stemmed from a few key factors. Firstly, he was reportedly hesitant to portray a real-life figure, especially a historical legend. Secondly, the film was to be directed by Rajamouli's son, Karthik, rather than Rajamouli himself, which apparently did not satisfy Jr NTR. Finally, it was reported that Aamir Khan is already involved in a similar project about Dadasaheb Phalke, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, making another biopic on the same subject seem redundant to the Devara actor.
SS Rajamouli is one of the most celebrated directors in Indian cinema. He is known for directing high-budget, visually stunning, and emotionally resonant films such as Baahubali: The Beginning, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, and RRR. RRR, a fictional story based on the lives of two Telugu freedom fighters, Alluri Seetharama Raju and Komaram Bheem, achieved global recognition, with its song "Naatu Naatu" winning an Oscar for Best Original Song. The film also won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song and two awards at the Critics Choice Awards.
Jr NTR and Ram Charan played the lead roles in RRR. The movie grossed over ₹1200 crore worldwide. Following the global success of RRR, both actors have moved on to their respective projects. Ram Charan will be seen in director Shankar's Game Changer opposite Kiara Advani, while Jr NTR is working on Devara alongside Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor. He also has a film lined up with KGF 2 director Prashanth Neel. SS Rajamouli has yet to officially announce his next directorial venture, though it is expected to feature Mahesh Babu in the lead role and is rumored to be a jungle adventure.
