Buchi Babu got what many directors dream of: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to direct a Tier 1 star like Ram Charan.
However, Peddi ended up underperforming both commercially and critically, making it a disappointing outcome for everyone involved.
More importantly, he may have missed a golden opportunity to establish himself among the top league of directors working with Tier 1 stars. At this point, it would come as a surprise if another Tier 1 star immediately signs him.
He now appears to be in a position where he has to rebuild his career from scratch.
Before the release of Peddi, Buchi Babu often spoke about how his mentor, Sukumar, was instrumental in giving him the opportunity to direct the film.
However, after the release, Sukumar largely stayed silent. Apart from attending the Peddi thank you meet, he never publicly praised the film or Buchi Babu’s work.
Interestingly, Sukumar recently watched Rao Bahadur, directed by Venkatesh Maha, and openly appreciated both the director and the film’s storytelling.
That contrast has caught the attention of many.
Sukumar is known to have been associated with Peddi in more ways than one, from his close creative relationship with Buchi Babu to reports of having a financial stake in the project. Yet, after the film received a mixed response, he did not actively promote or publicly endorse it.
His enthusiastic praise for Venkatesh Maha’s work, while remaining largely silent about his own protégé’s film, has inevitably sparked discussion.
It also reflects how top directors are often careful about their public endorsements and how much importance they place on their own credibility and personal brand when appreciating another filmmaker’s work.
