In a fiery Instagram post, South Indian superstar Nayanthara has slammed actor-filmmaker Dhanush, accusing him of sabotaging his upcoming Netflix documentary by refusing a no-objection certificate (NOC) for scenes related to their 2015 film, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan.

The film has sentimental value for Nayanthara, marking the start of her romance with filmmaker Vignesh Shivan, now her husband.

She revealed that after a two-year standoff, she was forced to remove all references to the film in her documentary when Dhanush demanded an incredible Rs 10 crore for a three-second clip.

In her open letter, Nayanthara minced no words, accusing Dhanush of holding grudges against her and her husband. She accused him of pettiness, saying: “The world is big enough for everyone… but it seems you are determined to hold on to an old grudge.” She expressed disbelief at the legal threats, describing Dhanush’s demands as a “low” and “vindictive” decision that impacted not only her, but also the many collaborators and supporters who contributed to the Netflix project. .

The documentary, scheduled to release on November 18 to coincide with her birthday, aims to showcase Nayanthara’s personal journey, her love story with Shivan, and her career highs and lows. However, Nayanthara lamented that it did not include the film dearest to her heart, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, a film which she said captured a special chapter of her life. “We were surprised to read these lines in which you questioned the use of certain videos… and claimed a sum of Rs 10 crores as damages,” she wrote, denouncing the alleged personal vendetta by Dhanush.

Here is the full letter:

Dear Mr. Dhanush K Raja. S/o Kasthoori Raja, B/o Selvaraghavan. This is an open letter addressed to you to correct several errors. A well-established actor like you. with the support and blessing of your father and brother, an ace director must read and understand this. Cinema, as we all know, is a fight for survival for people like me: a self-taught woman with no ties to the industry and someone who had to struggle to get to the position I have today. I owe it to my work ethic which is no secret to anyone who knows me but, more importantly, to the goodwill of the audience and my film fraternity.

The release of my Netflix documentary was highly anticipated not only by me, but by many of my fans and well washers. It took a whole team of collaborators and friends of the cinema to bring the project to fruition despite all the difficulties that presented themselves to us.

The revenge you harbor against the film. my partner and I. not only affects us, but also the people who dedicated their efforts and time to this project. This Netflix documentary about me, my life, my love and my marriage includes clips from many of my industry supporters who have graciously contributed and memorabilia from several films, but unfortunately does not include the most special and important film, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan.

After two long years of fighting with you for a NOC (No Objection Certificate) and waiting for your approval for the release of our Netrlix documentary, we have finally decided to give up. re-edit and accept the current version since you have refused to authorize the use of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan’s songs or visual cuts, even photographs at the very least, despite multiple requests.

Naanum Rowdy Dhaan’s songs are loved till date because the lyrics come from true emotions, knowing that there is no better music that we could use in our documentary. your refusal to give us the opportunity to use it, or even just the lyrics of the songs. broke my heart.

It is understandable that commercial constraints and monetary problems justify your refusal; but it hurts that your decision was only to express your personal grudge against us and that you deliberately remained undecided for so long.

What is even more shocking is your legal notices after the release of the trailer for the Netflix documentary. We were surprised to read these lines in which you questioned the use of certain videos (only 3 seconds) which were shot on our personal devices as well as the BTS visuals which are already very present publicly on social networks and demand a sum of Rs 10 crores. as damage for only 3 seconds. This is an all-time high for you and it says a lot about your character. I wish you were half the person you portray on stage at the audio launches in front of your innocent fans, but it’s clear you don’t practice what you preach. at least not for me and my partner.

Does a producer become an emperor controlling lives. the liberty and freedom of all the people in the setting? Any deviation from the Emperor’s dictum carries legal consequences?

I have received your legal notice and we will respond appropriately by legal means. Your refusal to give NOC for the use of elements of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan for our Netflix documentary could be justified by you in court from a copyright perspective, but I would like to remind you that there is a moral side to this. which must be defended before the tribunal of God.

It’s been almost 10 years since the movie came out and that’s a long time for someone to continue to be so vile while wearing a mask in front of the world. I haven’t forgotten all the horrible things you said about the film that was one of your biggest hits as a producer and a film that everyone still loves today. The words you said before the release have already left us with unbeatable scars. I learned from film circles that your ego gets extremely hurt after the film becomes a blockbuster. Your dissatisfaction with its success was noticeable even to the common man through the awards linked to this film (Filmfare 2016).

Commercial competition aside, prominent figures in public life do not interfere in the private lives of others. Courtesy and decency require generous behavior in such matters. I believe the people of Tamil Nadu, or anyone with a clear conscience, would not appreciate such tyranny, even if it came from an established personality like you.

She further wrote, “Through this letter, I only wish and pray that you achieve peace with your inner self over the success of some people you have known in the past. The world is big, it’s meant for everyone. It’s normal for people you know to come into your life. It’s normal for normal people without experience in cinema to succeed. It’s okay if some people connect and are happy. This doesn’t take anything away from you. it’s just an ode to their work, their blessings and the kindness of people.

You can fabricate a fake story, fill it with punchlines, and deliver it on your next audio launch too, but God is watching. I want to introduce a German word ‘schadenfreude’ into your vocabulary and make sure that you no longer experience this emotion from us or anyone else.

The letter reveals simmering tension between the actors, with Nayanthara detailing her views on their past collaboration, as well as the hurtful words Dhanush allegedly said about his performance after the film’s success. “Your dissatisfaction with his success was noticeable even to the common man,” she added, referring to the fallout.