During the grand pre-release event organized in Vizag for Nani and Mrunal Thakur's "Hi Nanna," the makers attempted an innovative promotional strategy that, unfortunately, backfired, causing controversy and drawing widespread criticism. The film is eagerly awaited for its release on December 7, 2023.

The incident unfolded when anchor Suma presented a series of photos to actress Mrunal Thakur for her comments. Initially, pictures of Nani, Nazriya, and Dulquer Salmaan were displayed, and Mrunal responded accordingly. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when photos of Vijay Devarakonda and Rashmika Mandanna on a Bali vacation were abruptly collaged on the screen, catching everyone off guard, including Mrunal.

Instead of addressing the issue and moving on, Suma continued to press the matter, asking Mrunal for her thoughts on the unexpected photos. Caught off guard, Mrunal responded diplomatically with a simple "Vacation mode on." Suma then extended the discussion by attempting to crack a joke. The video of this incident quickly went viral on social media, with fans expressing their discontent.

Criticism focused on the organizers' decision to display personal photos of other actors during the promotion of Nani's movie. Vijay Devarakonda's fans, in particular, were displeased with the anchor discussing the picture without promptly addressing the situation, leading to trolling and negative comments.

A segment of Vijay and Rashmika’s fanbase raised ethical concerns, questioning the appropriateness of using a personal, rumored picture of the two stars for promotional purposes. Social media was abuzz with speculation about when and why this specific photo was displayed at the event.

The incident has ignited discussions about the delicate balance between promoting a film and respecting the personal boundaries of the actors involved. As of now, the team is yet to react or respond to these speculations, leaving fans and netizens eagerly awaiting clarification on this unexpected turn of events.