Siddhu Jonnalagadda's Star Power Dims, 'Jack' Opens to Lukewarm Response
Directed by Bhaskar, once celebrated for hits like Parugu and Bommarillu, Jack appears to have missed the mark
By : BVS Prakash
Update: 2025-04-12 06:29 GMT
After delivering back-to-back hits like DJ Tillu and Tillu Square, rising star Siddhu Jonnalagadda seemed unstoppable. However, his latest outing, Jack, has opened to underwhelming box office numbers, earning just over Rs 3.5 crore gross—a modest figure for someone considered a youth icon.
“Siddhu’s box office pull has taken a hit,” notes a leading distributor. “The film needs to pick up steam quickly if it hopes to recover.”
Directed by Bhaskar, once celebrated for hits like Parugu and Bommarillu, Jack appears to have missed the mark. The story revolves around a young man (played by Siddhu) attempting to foil the plans of a dangerous terrorist, running parallel to a mission led by RAW agents (headed by Prakash Raj). However, this dual-narrative structure seems to have failed to connect with audiences in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Siddhu, known for his quirky mannerisms, razor-sharp one-liners, and flamboyant screen presence, especially resonated with younger viewers in Tillu Square, which raked in over ₹40 crore across the Telugu states. But this time around, his charm didn’t quite land. “Siddhu tries to inject his signature humor in scenes with his on-screen love interest (Vaishnavi) and his father (Naresh), but the magic feels forced and fleeting,” adds the distributor. “His script sense is also being questioned now.”
Jack was reportedly sold for over ₹24 crore, with ₹9 crore alone coming from the Nizam region. For distributors to break even, the film needs a serious boost at the box office in the coming days. Otherwise, it could turn into a financial misstep for all involved.
That said, all eyes are now on Siddhu’s next big release, Telusu Katha, which could be his shot at redemption.