Nani says son Arjun shapes his film choices, wants no 'cringe' when he is 15

Nani has opened up about how being a father changes the way he picks his films. The actor has long been loved for his family-friendly roles. His latest release, The Paradise, carries an A rating, so his own 9-year-old son Arjun cannot watch it yet.

In a promotional video for The Paradise with the ticketing app District, Nani pictured his son watching one of his films at 15. "Do I have to change the channel? Do I have to cringe about it?" he asked. He said Arjun has changed his choices, and that it happened "in a very, very good way."

During the film's promotions in Chennai, Nani said Arjun had asked if he could watch The Paradise. For now the answer is no. Nani told his son he could not see it on release, but would soon, once his father felt he was ready for it.

Nani was also asked whether a film like this could cost him his family audience, and he stood by his choice. He said that as an actor he has to explore every kind of genre, and that this level of intensity and this kind of performance can only be done in a certain way. His change of direction began in 2020, when he played a serial killer in V. Since then he has moved towards more intense, action-driven projects.

The Paradise gave Nani the biggest opening of his career, but critics and audiences have been lukewarm about it. A day after the release, he posted a note on X on Friday about the reactions. He said he had felt all the love and had "equally enjoyed" the funny trolls. He added that he had learnt from the flaws that critics and reviewers pointed out.

Nani thanked fans for their excitement and for the affection they showed him. He said the team made the film with "a lot of blood and sweat" to give viewers a unique experience. The film now belongs to the audience, he said, to celebrate or to judge.