Rana Daggubati has addressed the trolling and criticism surrounding the bold content of the Netflix series Rana Naidu, particularly concerning the family image of his uncle, Venkatesh Daggubati. The first season of Rana Naidu, which marked the OTT debut of both Rana and Venkatesh Daggubati, became a talking point due to its explicit dialogues and bold content. Venkatesh, known for his "family man" image, faced heavy criticism and trolling for mouthing vulgar monologues in the show.
According to sources, the adult content and cuss words have been cut down by more than 50% in Season 2 of 'Rana Naidu'. Venkatesh also confirmed this in a recent interview, stating that Season 2 will be better suited for a wider audience. The decision to reduce explicit content reportedly came after feedback from fans, many of whom expressed disappointment over the excessive use of strong language and bold themes in the Season 1. The makers, Suparn Verma and Karan Anshuman have assured that the Season 2 will still retain the gripping drama and intensity that made 'Rana Naidu' a hit whist focusing more on the emotional and action-packed aspects of the story. Additionally, Season 2 is said to explore new dynamics between Venkatesh and Rana's characters, adding more depth to their onscreen relationship.
Rana Daggubati acknowledged that the audience in the South, especially Telugu cinema fans, were more taken aback by the show's content due to Venkatesh's long-standing image as a family-friendly star. This perception made the explicit nature of the series more jarring for that segment of the audience. He noted that while shows are not as popular in the South, the series became quite mainstream because he and Venkatesh were in it.
Speaking about his bold avatar, Venkatesh said "Next time when you are doing the next season, you have to do it in such a way that everybody is going to like it. It is sure that you are not going to please everybody all the time. So I'm going to please maybe a little more audience. Some people will get affected with the style of the series. But I think we should just move on and see what we can do best next."
Rana addressed concerns about whether the explicit content was a conscious decision, stating that, particularly for Venkatesh, once he dons the character's attire and gets into the role, he is licensed to do anything. He added that it would be very difficult to curse otherwise with Venkatesh who is generally seen as an adorable person.
Despite the trolling, Rana Daggubati also expressed gratitude for the positive response to the series. He thanked fans and netizens while also apologizing to those who were offended by the show's objectionable scenes and double-meaning dialogues.
Looking ahead, Rana Naidu Season 2 is set to premiere on June 13 and features Rana Daggubati, Venkatesh, Arjun Rampal, Surveen Chawla, Kriti Kharbanda, Sushant Singh, Abhishek Banerjee, and Dino Morea. Rana stated that the new season will revolve around the dysfunctional family trying to get functional and see if normal order can come in their life but the past catches up. The series promises more family drama, action, and intensity, with the makers aiming to strike a better balance to appeal to a broader audience while maintaining the core elements that made the first season a success.
