On Saturday, November 16, actress Nayanthara took to Instagram to share a scathing open letter aimed at actor Dhanush, calling him a “tyrant” and a “small-hearted person.” The letter, which outlined her grievances against Dhanush, sheds light on a simmering rivalry that dates back to the 2015 hit film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, produced by Dhanush. In her post, Nayanthara alleges that Dhanush has been harboring a “personal grudge” against her and her husband, filmmaker Vignesh Shivan, ever since the film’s success.
The crux of Nayanthara’s recent outburst revolves around a legal dispute over the use of behind-the-scenes (BTS) content from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in her upcoming Netflix documentary, Nayanthara: Beyond Fairytale. According to the actress, despite multiple attempts by her team to obtain permission from Dhanush and his representatives, they were denied the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC). Frustrated, Nayanthara’s team proceeded to use publicly available BTS footage, including clips shot on her personal phone. This move led to Dhanush’s team sending a legal notice demanding ₹10 crore in damages for the use of just three seconds of video.
In her letter, Nayanthara expressed shock and disappointment at Dhanush’s response, accusing him of “questioning the usage of some videos” and issuing the legal notice after the trailer for the documentary was released. She wrote, “This is an all-time low from you and speaks so much about your character… I wish you were half the person you portray to be on stage in audio launches in front of your innocent fans, but clearly, you do not practice what you preach.”
A Long-Standing Grudge
The roots of this public fallout appear to go back to Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, a film that played a pivotal role in shaping Nayanthara’s career. Directed by Vignesh Shivan, the film starred Nayanthara alongside Vijay Sethupathi and was produced by Dhanush. Despite initial concerns about the film’s budget going overboard, Dhanush predicted the film would fail. However, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan went on to become a major commercial success, which, according to Nayanthara, bruised Dhanush’s ego.
In her letter, Nayanthara recalled how Dhanush expressed displeasure over the film’s success, even suggesting before its release that it would flop. She also mentioned that his disappointment was evident at the 2016 Filmfare Awards, where the film won multiple accolades. “Your ego was supremely hurt after the film became a blockbuster,” she wrote, referring to the Filmfare event where Dhanush’s discontent was perceptible.
The Impact on Nayanthara’s Career
Nayanthara also used the opportunity to remind the Tamil audience of her rise to stardom. She pointed out that, unlike Dhanush, who hails from a well-established film family, she had worked her way up the ladder of Indian cinema without any familial support. “Dhanush is a nepo kid who got everything served on a silver platter, while I, a self-made woman, climbed all the way to the top on my own,” she remarked.
The ongoing tension between Nayanthara and Dhanush has now become public, with the actress taking a firm stand against what she perceives as unfair treatment. She criticized Dhanush for his actions and accused him of maintaining a false public persona while harboring animosity behind the scenes.
As this saga continues to unfold, it’s clear that the tension between the two stars has been brewing for nearly a decade. What began as a professional relationship has now turned into an open dispute, with Nayanthara’s bold letter shedding light on the long-standing animosity between the two.
This public clash between Nayanthara and Dhanush is sure to spark debates across the film industry, especially given their respective roles in Tamil cinema. Fans and industry insiders alike are now waiting to see how the situation will evolve.
