Nayanthara Hits Out at Dhanush in Open Letter, Criticizes ‘All-Time Low’ Legal Notice

Actor Nayanthara has strongly criticized Tamil actor Dhanush, accusing him of harboring “festered vengeance” against her, her partner and director Vignesh Shivan, and their 2015 hit film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan for the past decade. In a scathing open letter, Nayanthara referred to Dhanush as a “tyrant” and questioned whether a producer has the right to “become an emperor, controlling the lives, freedom, and liberty of everyone on set.”

She expressed her discontent over Dhanush’s continued behavior even after ten years, calling him “vile,” and emphasized that she had not forgotten the hurtful things he had said to her. “The words you spoke before the film’s release have left deep, unhealable scars on us,” Nayanthara wrote, underscoring the emotional toll of his actions on her and her team.

Nayanthara has accused Dhanush, the producer of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, of refusing to provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the use of music and even photographs from the film in her upcoming Netflix documentary, Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale. In a statement, the actress revealed that after two years of back-and-forth discussions, they were forced to re-edit the documentary and settle for a different version.

However, she claimed that Dhanush has now taken legal action, serving her with a notice demanding Rs 10 crore in damages for using a mere 3-second Behind The Scenes (BTS) clip from the film.

Nayanthara expressed in her statement, “The vengeance you’ve been harboring against the film, my partner, and me doesn’t affect us, but it impacts the people who dedicated their time and efforts to this project. This Netflix documentary about my life, my love, and my marriage features clips from many industry well-wishers who kindly contributed, along with memories from multiple films. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include the most special and significant film of all — *Naanum Rowdy Dhaan*.”

Nayanthara, who rose to prominence in the film industry without the backing of powerful industry figures, earned the title of ‘Lady Superstar’ through her consistent and impressive body of work. In her statement, she expressed shock at receiving a legal notice over the use of a 3-second BTS clip, which was filmed on personal devices by people involved in the making of *Naanum Rowdy Dhaan*, directed by Vignesh Shivan.

She described the legal action as “an all-time low” and criticized Dhanush, stating that it revealed much about his character. Nayanthara went on to say, “I wish you were even half the person you portray to be at award shows and events in front of your fans.”

Nayanthara also expressed her belief that the people of Tamil Nadu would not support someone like Dhanush, regardless of how impressive his work or personality may appear. She used the German term schadenfreude—describing a person who takes pleasure in others’ misfortune—and advised Dhanush not to indulge in such emotions. The actress emphasized that she would respond to the legal notice through the proper legal channels.

“It is important to #SpreadLove,” she wrote, adding, “I hope and pray that one day you are truly capable of doing this, and not just saying it.” Nayanthara concluded by stating that she would soon provide a fitting response to Dhanush’s legal action.

Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale is scheduled for release on Monday, November 18. In both her open letter and the documentary trailer, Nayanthara explained that the purpose of the film was to bring joy and happiness to the audience, while also inspiring hope.