Naga Chaitanya's Thandel is now in theaters, with critical verdicts already out, and the film is on its way to determining its commercial fate.

While it is performing well in the Telugu states, at least for the weekend, it is underperforming in the U.S.

Putting that aside, if we analyze who has benefited the most from Thandel among the lead pair, surprisingly, Sai Pallavi's name doesn't stand out.

Instead, it's all about Naga Chaitanya. This isn't because Sai Pallavi performed poorly or had a weak character, but rather because her performance felt predictable and lacked surprises, resembling roles she has played before.

In contrast, Naga Chaitanya's performance has caught everyone's attention, with hardly any discussion about Sai Pallavi's role or performance on social media or in public discussions. He completely dominated the film, even overshadowing Sai Pallavi. Undoubtedly, if there's one biggest beneficiary of Thandel, it is Naga Chaitanya.

For now, the film is performing well in Andhra and Telangana over the weekend, but the real test begins on Monday. As for the U.S. box office, its fate is already clear, as the film continues to underperform on crucial Saturday.