Kannada producer Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah calls Nani's Hi Nanna 'cheap copy' of his film

Nani Hi Nanna

Kannada producer Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah has accused the team behind Nani’s Telugu film Hi Nanna of creating an unofficial and “cheap copy” of his 2020 Kannada movie Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja. This accusation has stirred controversy, with Mallikarjunaiah alleging that the makers of Hi Nanna failed to secure the necessary remake rights before proceeding with their film.

In an Instagram story, Mallikarjunaiah directly addressed Nani, writing, “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.” While the post was subsequently deleted, the allegations remain significant. He also shared the posters of both films on his Instagram account to draw attention to the similarities.

Hi Nanna, which released on December 7, 2023, is a romantic drama featuring Nani and Mrunal Thakur in lead roles. Directed by Shouryuv, the film received critical acclaim and commercial success for its emotional storytelling and engaging narrative. It performed well at the box office and was later made available for streaming on Netflix in January 2024.

Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah, known for producing hits like Avane Srimannarayana and Kirik Party, claims that Hi Nanna mirrors key elements of his earlier project. According to him, Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja has been blatantly imitated, with no effort to acknowledge or acquire the rights to the original story. He has termed the act as “cheap” and unprofessional, criticizing the Telugu film’s makers for bypassing standard industry protocols.

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While Mallikarjunaiah’s accusations have attracted widespread attention, the team behind Hi Nanna has yet to respond to these claims. This silence has further fueled speculation and discussions among fans and industry insiders.

Meanwhile, Nani’s fans are eagerly looking forward to his next project, HIT 3, scheduled for a May 2025 release. The actor’s striking salt-and-pepper look in the film has already generated significant excitement.

The ongoing dispute raises important questions about intellectual property and the ethics of adaptation in the Indian film industry. Whether the allegations lead to legal action or public clarification remains to be seen. For now, the controversy has spotlighted both films, stirring curiosity and debate among audiences.