Buchi Babu Sana, the writer-director of the sports drama Peddi, is reportedly working on an exciting script with the intention of signing ‘Megastar’ Chiranjeevi for his next. The filmmaker, who made an impressive directorial debut with Uppena, followed it up with Peddi, a much larger sports drama headlined by Ram Charan. The film emerged as a moderate commercial success at the box office, but its theatrical journey was far from straightforward.
Peddi’s Mixed Reception
While the project’s scale, Ram Charan’s star power and the sports backdrop generated considerable pre-release buzz, the final product received a mixed response from audiences. Buchi Babu’s writing became one of the biggest talking points after Peddi‘s release. The film faced criticism for its screenplay and characterisation, with the portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor’s character drawing particularly strong reactions from audiences and critics.
Despite the negative discussion surrounding several aspects of the writing, Peddi managed to stay afloat commercially. Ram Charan’s box-office stamina played a crucial role in bringing audiences to theatres, and the film eventually completed its theatrical run with minimal losses for most of the stakeholders involved. The Netflix release sparked fresh debates about plot holes and narrative choices. For Buchi Babu, the mixed reception means his next project carries considerable importance.
Can the Director Convince Chiranjeevi?
Aiming to bounce back strongly, the Sukumar protégé is reportedly developing a script that he hopes will impress Chiranjeevi. On paper, a Buchi Babu–Chiranjeevi collaboration would be a fascinating proposition, particularly given the filmmaker’s ability to mount stories on a large scale and the Megastar’s enormous reach.
However, the combination currently appears difficult to materialise. Chiranjeevi is enjoying a strong phase following Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, and after the mixed response to Peddi, convincing the veteran superstar to immediately commit to Buchi Babu’s next could prove challenging. The director previously prepared scripts for Mahesh Babu as well, showing his ambition to collaborate with top-tier stars. For now, the Chiranjeevi project remains a reported possibility rather than a confirmed collaboration, but if Buchi manages to deliver a compelling script, the equation could certainly change.
