The bond between NTR and Kodali Nani is known for many years. Nani also keeps on saying in interviews that his friendship with NTR is purely personal and far from politics.
But it is being said that NTR has kept Kodali Nani away from him long ago. It is known how Nani has been continuing his verbal attack on Chandrababu Naidu for many years. He is still continuing the same even now.
NTR is afraid that many may assume that he is there behind Nani's venting out anger on Chandrababu with demeaning words.
It was said that even during Harikrishna's funeral, NTR was not seen moving very close with Kodali Nani. Adding to this, NTR didn't attend a family function in Kodali Nani's house despite an invitation.
Many say that NTR once gets distanced from someone, can never patch up the relationship.
But there is another argument for this rumor. As NTR's identity and strong fan base belongs to a community that considers Chandrababu as their leader, it is understood as NTR's shrewdness to send this feeler into the public, only for his professional reasons.
This topic has come up in a discussion of why NTR did not attend Dil Raju's birthday party held a few days back.
Almost all the big heroes have attended the event but only NTR was absent. It is said that NTR is upset with Dil Raju also for a reason and so he distanced from him. But that reason is not known yet.