Director Puri Jagannadh, who made his debut with the Pawan Kalyan-starrer Badri (2000), completes 26 years in cinema on Monday (April 20). Badri, which was released on May 20, 2000, stars Pawan Kalyan, Ameesha Patel, and Renu Desai in the lead, with Prakash Raj also featuring in a key role. The film was well received by critics and went on to collect a big profit at the box office.

On this occasion, Vijay Sethupathi, the star of Puri's upcoming film Slumdog: 33 Temple Road, shared a note dedicated to the director. “What a journey it has been for this man. Twenty-six years in cinema is not just a milestone; it’s a legacy built with courage, conviction, and a fearless voice.”

He added, “Dear Puri sir, it was an absolute pleasure working with you on Slumdog: 33 Temple Road. As actors, we always look for directors who trust us and push us beyond our comfort zones, and you do that effortlessly. I believe this will be remembered as a very special film for all of us involved. Wishing you continued success and many more years of impactful storytelling. Respect always.”

After Badri (2000), he went on to direct the Kannada film, Yuvaraja (2001), starring Shivarajkumar. He also made several memorable films such as Itlu Sravani Subramanyam (2001), Idiot (2002), Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammayi (2003), Pokiri (2006), Desamuduru (2007), and Temper (2015).

Pokiri (2006) became an industry hit and played a role in boosting Mahesh Babu's stardom. While making successful films like Desamuduru with Allu Arjun, and Temper with Jr NTR, while giving Ravi Teja a major break with Idiot (2002), Itlu Sravani Subramanyam (2001), and Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammayi (2003).

His latest release is Double iSmart (2024), which saw Ram Pothineni reprising his role from the 2019 film, iSmart Shankar.

His next with Vijay Sethupathi, Slumdog: 33 Temple Road, marks Sethupathi’s first Telugu film as a lead actor. Tabu, Samyuktha, Brahmaji, and others play key roles in the film.