Akhil Akkineni’s latest release Lenin is not only performing well at the box office but is also earning praise from some of the biggest names in the film industry. Director Ram Gopal Varma has now joined the list of admirers after watching the revenge action drama, and his reaction has quickly grabbed attention online. The filmmaker didn’t just appreciate the movie, he went a step further by calling Akhil the finest performer in the entire Akkineni family. His comments have sparked fresh conversations among Telugu cinema fans, especially considering the legacy of superstar Nagarjuna and the late Akkineni Nageswara Rao.
The exchange between the actor and the director began shortly after the film’s successful theatrical release. Ram Gopal Varma initially congratulated Akhil for the movie’s impressive start at the box office, leading to a warm interaction between the two on X. Their conversation later turned into one of the most talked-about social media moments surrounding the film.
Ram Gopal Varma’s Review Wins Attention
RGV first shared a congratulatory message that read, “HEY @AkhilAkkineni , A BIG CONGRATS on the BLOCKBUSTER #Lenin 🔥🔥🔥.” Akhil responded with gratitude and invited the filmmaker to watch the movie, replying, “Thank you sir … please do watch 🙏🏻🤗”. A day later, Ram Gopal Varma returned to X after watching the film and shared his detailed reaction, which instantly went viral among Telugu cinema fans.
He wrote, “Hey @AkhilAkkineni8 Just saw #Lenin , and apart from the FILM being GREAT , I realised that you are the BEST ACTOR in the #Akkineni family and I swear this on @iamnagarjuna 🔥🔥.”
RGV further praised Akhil’s screen presence and emotional performance, writing, “Your ease is remarkable even when there’s no emotion in the scenes and in the emotional scenes you KILLED it 🙏🙏🙏💪💪💪💐💐💐 A BIG SHOUT OUT to #MuraliKishorAbburi for giving you AWESOME chords to PLAY 💪”. His appreciation also highlighted director Murali Kishor Abburu, acknowledging the filmmaker’s work in presenting Akhil in a role that allowed him to showcase a different side of his acting abilities.
Lenin Continues Strong Run at the Box Office
The positive word of mouth has been reflected in the film’s box office performance as well. Lenin opened with ₹7.15 crore on Friday while recording around 50 percent occupancy across 2,028 shows. The collections witnessed healthy growth over the weekend, with the film earning ₹8.65 crore on Saturday before climbing further to ₹9.65 crore on Sunday, indicating strong audience acceptance.
The film also saw an increase in theatre presence and occupancy over the weekend. It was screened in 2,099 shows on Saturday with 57 percent occupancy, while Sunday’s count rose to 2,324 shows, recording nearly 60 percent occupancy. So far, Lenin has collected approximately ₹29.27 crore gross across India, while its India net total has reached ₹25.45 crore, making it one of the strongest performers among recent Telugu releases.
What Lenin Is About
Directed by Murali Kishor Abburu, Lenin is a revenge action drama set in the fictional village of Srirampuram. The story draws thematic inspiration from the Mahabharata, following a man determined to break a long-running cycle of violence connected to a deeply rooted village festival. Instead of relying only on action, the film blends emotional conflict, family tensions and revenge into a narrative that has connected with audiences.
Alongside Akhil Akkineni, the film also features Bhagyashri Borse and Sunil in important roles. The supporting cast has received appreciation for adding emotional depth to the story while complementing Akhil’s performance throughout the film.
For Akhil Akkineni, the success of Lenin marks another significant milestone in his career. After beginning as a child artist in Sisindri in 1995 and making his lead debut with Akhil in 2015, the actor went on to appear in films such as Hello, Mr. Majnu, and Most Eligible Bachelor. With Lenin now earning strong collections and praise from filmmakers like Ram Gopal Varma, the actor appears to have delivered one of the most celebrated performances of his career so far.
