At the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2024 in Goa, Nagarjuna Akkineni took the opportunity to honor his late father, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, on what would have been his 100th birthday. In his address to the media, Nagarjuna expressed his deep admiration for his father’s legacy, acknowledging how Nageswara Rao had been a guiding inspiration for many, including himself and a new generation of filmmakers. He also highlighted the significance of IFFI as a platform for young filmmakers, emphasizing its role in showcasing new voices in cinema​.

Nagarjuna’s tribute was part of a larger tribute program at IFFI that honored four Indian cinema legends, including Nageswara Rao, Raj Kapoor, Tapan Sinha, and Mohammed Rafi, marking their centennial anniversaries.