2025 was not just a disappointing year for actors but also a difficult one for Telugu directors. Big names, strong casts, sequels, and even filmmakers with award winning backgrounds failed to deliver films that truly connected with audiences. Some movies failed badly at the box office, while others managed to survive but left no real impact. By the end of the year, many directors found themselves exactly where they started, or worse, having lost the trust and goodwill they had built with viewers.
So here is our list of 10 Telugu directors who gained nothing in 2025, arranged in the order in which their films were released this year.
1. Sandeep Raj – Mowgli
After the National Award–winning Colour Photo, expectations were naturally high from Sandeep Raj. Sadly, Mowgli turned out to be an outright washout. Poor writing and execution ensured that the film failed to connect on any level. Sandeep needs to work a lot on his writing and direction if he has to make any mark in the future.
2. Boyapati Srinu – Akhanda 2
With sky-high expectations riding on the sequel, Akhanda 2 ended up feeling painfully outdated. OTT action, impact less speeches, poor VFX, weak villains, and an outlandish plotline made the film a bore. Boyapati’s formula seemed completely out of sync with contemporary audience tastes. He urgently needs to reinvent himself.
3. Mahesh Babu Pachigolla – Andhra King Taluka
Despite receiving reasonably decent talk, the film crashed at the box office. Coming after the enjoyable Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty, expectations existed, but the core plot, dull promotional material, and lack of excitement meant audiences never gave the film a real chance.
4. Neeraja Kona – Telusu Kada
Neither here nor there, Telusu Kada suffered from confused intent. The film attempted to speak about feminism and sensitive issues but ended up feeling toxic and immature in its handling. A silly plot and unclear stand diluted whatever message it aimed to convey.
5. Krish Jagarlamudi – Ghaati
One of the biggest disasters of the year. Despite having Anushka, Krish delivered a flat, loud, and routine revenge drama. What looked ambitious on the surface ended up being emotionally hollow and largely unengaging.
6. Gowtham Tinnanuri – Kingdom
Coming from the director of Jersey, expectations were understandably high. Instead, Kingdom turned into one of the year’s biggest disappointments. Dull narration, ordinary writing, weak emotional bonding, and zero freshness resulted in a film that felt overly long and soulless.
7. Praveen Kandregula – Subham & Paradha
While Subham had fresh humour and slice-of-life charm, it felt stretched. Paradha attempted a progressive idea but lacked narrative grip and emotional payoff. Promise was evident, but execution fell short in both films, especially in Paradha.
8. Sailesh Kolanu – HIT: The Third Case
After Saindhav, HIT 3 was expected to revive Sailesh’s standing as a director. Though it performed average at the box office, it failed to benefit him creatively. The film struggled with genre identity, emotional weight, and consistency.
9. Kalyan Shankar – Mad Square
A direct sequel to Mad, the film quickly became repetitive. While it offered sporadic laughs, the stretched narrative and thinning gags made it feel longer than necessary. It neither harmed nor boosted Kalyan’s career.
10. Chandoo Mondeti – Thandel
After the goodwill earned by Karthikeya 2, Thandel turned out to be forgettable. A weak second half and underdeveloped ideas resulted in a barely average experience, despite decent resources and cast.
In the end, 2025 showed that even well-known or talented directors can slip if the writing isn’t strong and the vision isn’t clear. For some, it was just a forgettable year with no real progress. For others, it became a tough phase that pushed their careers a step backward instead of forward.
