2025 delivered an unexpected shock for Telugu cinema when two mid-range heroes, each with two releases in the same year, ended up facing back-to-back failures. What made it more striking was that these films mounted with solid budgets, big banners, and genuine expectations. Instead, they turned into some of the year’s biggest critical and commercial letdowns.
Siddu Jonnalagadda:
After the massive success of Tillu Square, expectations around Siddu Jonnalagadda were high. Unfortunately, both his 2025 releases failed to capitalize on that momentum.
Jack, directed by Bommarillu Bhaskar, collapsed primarily due to weak writing, poor execution, and a confusing screenplay. Made on a budget of roughly Rs. 40 crores, the film failed to collect even Rs. 10 crore and ended as a clear disaster. More than the financial loss, Siddu faced heavy trolling for choosing such a shallow subject immediately after delivering a blockbuster.
His second release, Telusu Kada, fared no better. The romantic drama felt predictable and slow, with a weak screenplay, inconsistent character arcs, and an unconvincing handling of its surrogacy theme. Audiences found the protagonist unlikeable, and audience pointed out the lack of emotional depth. The result was another big flop.
Siddu’s strength as DJ Tillu is undeniable, but 2025 showed the risk of being boxed into a single zone. Taking this backlash constructively could help him explore new genres and showcase his range beyond Tillu.
Nithiin:
For Nithiin, 2025 was meant to be a comeback year after a spate of flops. Instead, it turned into a harsh reminder of how unforgiving the box office can be.
Robinhood, directed by Venky Kudumula, had stylish moments but lacked narrative depth and consistency. Despite decent pre-release buzz, routine storytelling, negative talk, and strong competition hurt collections badly. Made on a Rs. 60 crores budget, the film earned only around Rs. 14 crore and ended as a commercial disaster.
That disappointment was followed by Thammudu, produced by Dil Raju. Mounted on a massive Rs. 75 crores budget, the film shocked everyone by collecting just about Rs. 9 crores. Unlike many flops, Thammudu failed from day one. The response was so poor that the makers avoided post release promotions altogether.
With two consecutive disasters, Nithiin now finds himself needing a complete reset. He must retrospect, rethink, reinvent, and then resurge with solid content.
