Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah, a Kannada film producer known for Avane Srimannarayana and Kirik Party, has accused the makers of Hi Nanna of copying his 2020 film Bheemasena Nalamaharaja without acquiring remake rights. Posting on Instagram, he alleged that the Telugu film’s premise and narrative structure were directly lifted from his work. He criticised Nani and the filmmakers, stating, “Without taking remake rights, Hi Nanna has been made by our original movie Bheemasena Nalamaharaja. What a cheap thing to do, Nani.”

Actor Nani’s Hi Nanna has become a significant film in his career, marking a superhit for him at the box office. The film, released on 7 December 2023, featured Nani as a father, a role he took on at a high point in his career. It was directed by Shouryuv, making his debut, and resonated with family audiences.

Fans of the film and audiences started the discourse that the key similarity lies in the storytelling approach. Both films feature a protagonist narrating a love story to the heroine, with a child playing a crucial role in the narrative. The makers of Hi Nanna have not yet responded to the allegations.