Telugu superstar Nagarjuna’s tribute to Mohanlal became the standout moment at a Chennai event hosted by JioHotstar on Tuesday (December 9), where the Telugu star publicly congratulated the Malayalam icon for receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
The gathering, which brought together Bigg Boss hosts Vijay Sethupathi, Mohanlal and Nagarjuna, turned into an unexpected celebration of Mohanlal’s decades-long contribution to Indian cinema.
Taking the microphone with clear intent, Nagarjuna told the audience, “I actually pulled the mic from brother Vijay because I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate Mohanlal garu on receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.” His tone carried a mix of admiration and urgency, suggesting he had been waiting to express this on a public platform.
He went a step further, calling Mohanlal the ideal choice for India’s highest film honour. “This is truly the most deserving actor for the most prestigious award,” he said. Nagarjuna then linked the moment to his own family’s emotional history, recalling his late father and veteran actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao. “I call it prestigious because I remember my father receiving this honour years ago. This award is so pure and prestigious, and it has come to the most deserving actor.”
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The admiration didn’t end there. Nagarjuna spoke at length about Mohanlal’s craft, describing him as an artist who transcends trends and language barriers. “An actor who holds his own in Indian cinema. A man who can do anything with ease. He learns, he transforms, he becomes the character. All you can do is clap for him,” he said, offering one of the most heartfelt tributes heard from a contemporary star in recent times.
The event itself was already stacked with big names.
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On December 9, JioHotstar unveiled the Bigg Boss South Multiverse at South Unbound, bringing together three of the franchise’s most recognised faces. The platform showcased Mohanlal, Vijay Sethupathi and Nagarjuna in a striking visual presentation meant to highlight the expanding South Indian universe of Bigg Boss.
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