‘I Checked YouTube Myself’: Rakul Preet Singh reacts as Jaya Janaki Nayaka creates history with 1 Billion Views

Rakul Preet Singh is celebrating a remarkable milestone after her 2017 Telugu action drama Jaya Janaki Nayaka scripted YouTube history. The Hindi-dubbed version of the film has officially become the first movie in the platform’s history to cross one billion views, setting a new benchmark for Indian cinema in the digital space.

Reacting to the achievement, the actress admitted that she was initially taken by surprise and even decided to verify the record herself.

‘I Went to YouTube to Check’

Speaking about the unprecedented milestone, Rakul Preet Singh described the numbers as “insane” and compared the achievement to the number of people who typically watch blockbuster films in theatres.“When we convert it into today’s theatre footfalls, it’s an insane number. Even a huge blockbuster would be watched by around one crore people, so one billion is amazing,” she said.

Although she had been hearing about the film’s impressive online viewership for years, Rakul confessed that reaching the one-billion mark seemed almost unbelievable.“I actually went on YouTube to check if it was true,” the actress revealed with a smile.

Setting the Record Straight

During the conversation, Rakul Preet Singh also addressed reports claiming that Jaya Janaki Nayaka had underperformed at the box office.

She clarified that the film was, in fact, a commercial success when it was released and was warmly received by audiences.

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According to Rakul, some reports have incorrectly labelled the movie as unsuccessful despite its positive theatrical run.“I want to correct that it was a film that did well at the time of its release. We celebrated its success, and it was very well received. Bellamkonda Sreenivas was relatively new, but Boyapati Srinu was already a hugely successful director whose films have always connected with audiences. This was a very loved film,” she said.

A Film That Continues to Find New Audiences

Directed by Boyapati Srinu, Jaya Janaki Nayaka tells the story of Gagan and Sweety, two lovers whose relationship is challenged by family opposition. As fate brings them together once again amid dangerous circumstances, Gagan vows to protect Sweety from those threatening her family.

The film features an ensemble cast including Bellamkonda Sreenivas, Rakul Preet Singh, Jagapathi Babu, Tarun Arora, Pragya Jaiswal, Sarath Kumar, Nandu, Suman, Jayaprakash, and Vani Viswanath.

Years after its theatrical release, the film’s extraordinary performance on YouTube highlights the growing popularity of dubbed South Indian cinema among digital audiences across India and beyond. Crossing the one-billion-view milestone marks a historic achievement that few films have managed to accomplish on any streaming platform.