Puri Jagannadh has completed two decades in Telugu cinema. The maverick filmmaker, who made his directorial debut with Pawan Kalyan-starrer Badri on April 20, 2000, has been receiving congratulatory messages on his incredible journey from his fans and celebrities alike.

In a heart-warming note, actor Ram, who worked with Puri in iSmart Shankar (2019), took to Twitter and wrote:

Acknowledging Ram's message, Puri replied, "My iSmart I do and I will breathe cinema till my death maaki kiri kiri."

In an illustrious career, spanning over two decades, the 53-year-old director has made 37 films in Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. His films like Idiot (2002), Pokiri (2006), Desamuduru (2007), Chirutha (2007), Businessman (2012), and Temper (2015) were all blockbusters. 

Now, Puri is directing Vijay Deverakonda in his upcoming martial arts action entertainer, Liger. A Telugu-Hindi bilingual, which will also be released in other regional languages, nearly 40 per cent of the shoot was completed before the entertainment industry suspended all shootings, releases and other events due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Vijay too wished Puri on the occasion and fondly recalled how he was in awe of the chartbuster song Hey Chiquita from Badri. 

In response, the director wrote, "It’s a big compliment from a youngster like you. I will keep exciting you more and more. I’m missing you and waiting for you in Mumbai. Can’t wait to start our shoot again."