Film Industry Mourns Dharmendra; ‘Peddi’ Special Announcement Cancelled

The sudden passing of Bollywood legend Dharmendra on Monday morning sent shockwaves throughout the film industry, affecting studios and film sets across the country.

One of the first to respond was the team behind “Peddi,” the upcoming film starring Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor, which had been preparing for a major announcement later in the day. The update, originally scheduled for 4:05 pm, was cancelled shortly after news of Dharmendra’s death broke.

In a brief but heartfelt note on X, the film’s makers expressed that they were “deeply saddened” by Dharmendra’s passing and added, “an era he defined can never be replaced.” They also extended their condolences to his family, describing the pause as “a simple gesture of respect.”

The halt comes at a critical time for Peddi, which is being shaped into one of Tollywood’s largest productions. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the film boasts a massive Rs. 300 crore budget and features notable actors including Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, and Divyendu Sharma.

The project has also generated early excitement with AR Rahman returning to compose a full Telugu album. For Janhvi Kapoor, this marks her second Telugu film, while Ram Charan headlines one of the most expensive ventures of his career. Peddi is scheduled for release on 27 March 2026.