Aug 19, 2026 12:20pm IST
Akhil: ‘My Brother and I Are The Poster Children of Nepotism’
Akkineni Nagarjuna’s youngest son Akhil has his blueprint in place. After having produced and starred in the recently released film, “Lenin,” the actor producer has dreamed of carrying forward the legacy of Annapurna Studios by making films with a soul. In a conversation with Variety India, he talks about the positives of being a star kid, not getting impacted by trolling, and leading a private life with his wife, Zainab.
You acted in “Most Eligible Bachelor” (2021) followed by “Agent” (2023). Why the long gap before “Lenin?”
I had a three-year break due to a hand injury followed by a 16-month recovery period. That sort of changed the trajectory of my career. Post ‘Agent’ I was fully prepped for a film but just before we started work, I was on a vacation with my then-partner, now-wife Zainab in Maldives, where I had a freak accident. I slipped on the bathroom floor and landed on the glass with my left hand. I had to go through two surgeries. It took me a year before I could start lifting weights and another four months to get back into shape.
That must have been frustrating...
It was frustrating because I had come off ‘Agent’ that was a failure, and I was really geared up for my new film. I had a bad patch, but I’ve always been a fighter. So, the way forward was the only thing that I could think about. ‘Lenin’ was not on my plate at that point. But, I could not get back to that earlier project. I got to introspect a lot and that is when the desire to connect to my roots came from. If I can penetrate the hearts of the Telugu people -- and I think I can -- I can create my base the way I want to, and that’s the approach right now.
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It is assumed that star kids always have it easy. Agree?
I guess my brother and me are poster children of nepotism. We accepted it gracefully. But now, it’s a double-edged sword. I could tell you about all my pressures and the negative sides, But I would prefer to focus on how fortunate we are.
The euphoria around a star kid is real, especially in the South, when you’re being launched, like it happened in my case. It was not realistic for a 21-year-old youngster to be able to cope with the hype. But that comes with the liberty or luxury to fail and then get back at it.
So, how do you deal with trolling, especially as a star son?
I think if you’re an actor, you must accept the reality of the ecosystem. We are public figures and everything I do could be subject to some sort of social media tension. I don’t let it affect me. I’ve very much accepted it, and I only react if there’s something serious that needs to be addressed. There have been times when as a family, we’ve united and shown a sign of strength that we will not sit quietly when things go too far.
To what extent are you involved with Annapurna Studios?
My role is simple. I am focused on production. I like making films. So, that’s part of Annapurna that I really want to take forward. There is a huge market for filmmaking in terms of non-star film content-based films, right now. We have seen a surge of smaller films doing really well over the last one to two years, where the budget of the film versus the final economics of the film has no connection. It’s not just money. I want to put together a film with a director from Annapurna College of Film and Media. I have to make that happen. And I will do so someday soon.
Photographed By: Vikram Bawa | Styled By: Sanam Ratansi | Cover Designed By: Rahul Nanda | Hospitality Partner: The Leela Hyderabad
On him: Black wool denim jacket and Gurkha denim by Label Crestelli, paired with Cobblus black leather Chelsea boots
HMU: Rakesh Naidu
Talent Management: Anusha Puppala
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