Thandel has turned out to be a special film in Naga Chaitanya’s career, as it marks his first entry into the ₹100 crore club. Directed by Chandoo Mondeti, the film was not only a major commercial success but also earned him the Best Actor award at the recently held Telangana Gaddar Film Awards.

Now, the actor has added another feather to his cap. Naga Chaitanya was honoured with the Best Actor (Telugu) award at the first-ever Indian National Cinema Academy (INCA) Awards, held recently in Mumbai. Following his earlier win, he continues his winning streak with this latest recognition for his performance as Thandel Raju in Thandel.

The film, based on real-life stories of fishermen from Srikakulam, struck a chord with audiences. Naga Chaitanya’s grounded and heartfelt performance has been widely appreciated and continues to win hearts.

Speaking on the occasion, Naga Chaitanya said, “Every film and every character gives you something, and Thandel is that film for me. The character of Thandel Raju has taught me a lot. Bringing the stories of fishermen from Srikakulam to life has been a memorable journey. These experiences will stay with me forever. I would like to thank my director Chandoo Mondeti, producer Allu Aravind garu, Bunny Vasu garu, Sai Pallavi, DSP, and the entire team. Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible.”

With back-to-back recognitions, Naga Chaitanya continues to focus on strong, character-driven stories. The INCA Awards, a new addition to the Indian film calendar, brought together talent from 12 film industries. This win further adds to the growing recognition for Thandel and its lead actor.