Nayanthara breaks silence on Dhanush feud, says, "If I didn’t speak out now..."

Nayanthara and Dhanush fued

Nayanthara, who previously addressed a legal dispute with Dhanush over the unauthorized use of a clip from his 2015 film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in her Netflix documentary Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale, chose silence after releasing a strongly-worded open letter. However, in a recent interview she broke her silence, explaining her reasons and shedding light on the situation. The actress emphasized the importance of creative integrity while defending her team's intentions behind the documentary’s content.

In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress said, "Courage only comes from the truth. I only have to be scared when I’m fabricating something. If I’m not doing that, I don’t have to be scared. If I didn’t speak out now, when things had already gone too far, I don’t think anyone would have the courage to stand up for themselves ever again," Nayanthara said. "Why should I be scared of doing something which I feel is right? I should be scared only if I’m doing something wrong. I’m not someone who would want to tarnish someone’s image just for the sake of publicity,"

Nayanthara clarified that her open letter was never meant to serve as a publicity stunt for her Netflix documentary. She explained that Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale isn’t about the success or failure of a film but about connecting with audiences on a personal level, saying, "It is not about whether the film is a hit or a flop, but about knowing a person more if you like them." Addressing the controversy, she revealed that she had only requested four lines from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan that encapsulated their journey as a family—"our life, our love, our kids." The 2015 movie, directed by her husband Vignesh Shivan and produced by Dhanush’s Wunderbar Films, holds deep sentimental value for her, further fueling her disappointment over the dispute.

Nayanthara shared that, despite rarely doing so, she reached out to Dhanush’s manager, requesting a call with him. She explained that her intention wasn’t to revisit what went wrong over the past decade but to mend things enough for them to exchange pleasantries if they meet again. However, tensions remain, as the two noticeably avoided each other at a wedding shortly after her open letter. Nayanthara expressed hope for a resolution, emphasizing her desire to move forward amicably.

Also Read: Shatrughan Sinha accepts cheating on his wife, Poonam Sinha with Reena Roy: "When you are out with your lover, you feel guilty for your wife"

Nayanthara clarified that the footage included in her documentary was merely a brief behind-the-scenes shot captured by a crew member. She explained that back then, behind-the-scenes material wasn’t part of contractual agreements as it is today, meaning it didn’t qualify as official footage. Nayanthara had hoped that Dhanush, being a respected and beloved actor, would overlook the issue. However, she felt it was blown out of proportion following the trailer's release. This escalation, which she deemed "unfair", prompted her to address the matter through her strongly-worded open letter.

Nayanthara's documentary, Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale was released on Netflix on 18th November, 2024.