The ongoing feud between actress Nayanthara and actor Dhanush has rapidly escalated into a major controversy, with several colleagues from the film industry publicly taking sides. The issue came to light after Nayanthara posted a detailed open letter on social media, accusing Dhanush of blocking the use of clips from the 2015 film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in her new documentary, Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale.
In her letter, Nayanthara, who played the female lead in the film, claimed that Dhanush refused to grant permission for a three-second behind-the-scenes clip to be included in the documentary. She also revealed that Dhanush allegedly demanded a hefty Rs 10 crore fee for the usage of the clip. The controversy has deepened as Nayanthara suggested that the refusal may have been motivated by a personal grudge, particularly against her husband and the film’s director, Vignesh Shivan.
The documentary, which was released on November 18 to coincide with Nayanthara’s 40th birthday, follows her life and career journey. It is understood that the three-second clip from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan was intended to be a part of the documentary’s broader narrative, reflecting the significance of the film in Nayanthara and Vignesh’s personal and professional lives.
In response to the accusations, Dhanush’s father, renowned director Kasthuri Raja, issued a statement vehemently rejecting Nayanthara’s claims. According to reports by Times of India, Raja dismissed Nayanthara’s assertions that she had been chasing Dhanush for permission to use footage from the film. He pointed out that neither he nor his son had the time to engage in rumours or respond to individuals speaking behind their backs. Raja further expressed that both he and Dhanush were focused entirely on their work, emphasising that claims of waiting for two years were untrue.
“Work is important to us. We are running ahead. There is no time to answer those who chase us or those who talk about us behind our backs. Like me, my son is focused only on work. As Nayanthara said, waiting for two years is not true information. He said I don’t want to talk about it,” Times of India’s Tamil portal quoted him as saying.
While Dhanush has not yet publicly responded to the controversy, the issue has already garnered significant attention. Many industry insiders have expressed their support for one side or the other, further fueling the rift.
Experts described the documentary as more of a film, noting that much of it appeared staged, with only rare moments of authenticity.
The public dispute between two of Tamil cinema’s most prominent stars has left many questioning the true nature of the fallout between them. With no clear resolution in sight, the controversy continues to unfold, keeping fans and industry observers on edge.