NTR was supposed to do Buchi Babu Sana’s second film after Uppena. But due to reasons unknown, Buchi Babu directed his second film, Peddi, with Ram Charan, which is releasing in a few hours from now. The excitement is at its peak.
However, Buchi Babu has clarified that the script he wrote for Jr. NTR was completely different and has no connection with Peddi. He has also made it clear that he remains eager to work with NTR whenever the opportunity arises.
Interestingly, Buchi Babu’s future after Peddi remains open. While Ram Charan’s upcoming lineup is already packed with projects directed by Sukumar and Prashanth Neel, Buchi Babu has not officially announced his next film. The filmmaker reportedly has another script ready, but the lead actor has not been finalized.
NTR, meanwhile, has one of the busiest schedules in Indian cinema. He is currently working on Dragon with Prashanth Neel. A project with Trivikram Srinivas is widely expected to follow, while Devara 2 also remains in the pipeline. Given the scale of these films, NTR could remain occupied for several years.
Despite that, many industry observers believe a Buchi Babu-NTR collaboration remains very much alive. Much could depend on what happens with Peddi.
If Peddi emerges as a major blockbuster and exceeds expectations, Buchi Babu’s market value and industry standing will rise dramatically. A second consecutive success after Uppena, especially with a star of Ram Charan’s stature, would firmly place him among the most sought-after commercial directors in Indian cinema. In that scenario, top stars, including NTR, may become even more interested in collaborating with him when schedules allow.
Some industry watchers even believe that if Peddi becomes one of the year’s biggest successes, NTR may look back and wonder what might have happened had the earlier project moved forward instead of him committing to do a terrible film like WAR 2.
On the other hand, if Peddi fails to meet expectations, the chances of an immediate collaboration could become impossible. Buchi Babu might need to focus on other opportunities before revisiting that possibility.
Ultimately, everything comes down to Peddi. The film will answer the biggest questions surrounding Buchi Babu’s growth as a filmmaker: how he has presented Ram Charan, how effective his storytelling is on a large scale, and whether he can deliver a massive commercial success after Uppena.
If the film clicks in a big way, a new chapter could begin in Buchi Babu’s career. And somewhere in that chapter, the long-discussed collaboration with NTR may once again become a serious possibility.
