The controversy centers around Nayanthara’s Netflix documentary, Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale. The actress has accused Dhanush of blocking the use of key footage from her career-defining film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, while demanding damages of Rs 10 crore for what he termed as unauthorized use.

Nayanthara took to Instagram to pen a scathing letter that cast a harsh light on Dhanush’s actions, describing them as “vile” and fueled by “revenge”. In the letter, she slammed Dhanush for his lack of support, contrasting his privileged entry into cinema with her struggle as a self-made woman with no connections in the industry. “A well-established actor like you, who had the blessings of a strong film family, should understand the struggle for survival for people like me,” she wrote, pointing out the disparity in their paths. The actress revealed that her team spent two years trying to get a no-objection certificate (NOC) from Dhanush to include clips from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in the documentary. However, she claimed that Dhanush deliberately stopped their efforts.

Nayanthara didn’t mince words in calling out Dhanush’s actions, writing, “The vendetta you have brought against this film, my partner and I is not only affecting us but many people who have given their time and effort in this documentary.” She went on to describe her legal notice demanding 10 million lei for three seconds of footage as a “historic low”. “You questioned the use of simple behind-the-scenes footage shot on personal devices that is already publicly available on social media,” she said. The post ended with a pointed tag at Dhanush and the mantra, ‘Om Namah Shivaya’.