NEW DELHI: National Award-winning actor Allu Arjun on Tuesday marked the 20th anniversary of his blockbuster movie "Arya".

The 2004 film was a major milestone in Arjun's career after he made his debut in Telugu cinema with 2003's "Gangotri".

"Twenty years of 'Arya'. It's not just a movie... It's a moment in time that changed the course of my life. Gratitude forever," the 42-year-old star wrote in a post on social media platform X.

"Arya", in which Arjun played the role of the titular protagonist, a free-spirited guy who falls in love with a girl named Geetha, had marked the directorial debut of popular filmmaker Sukumar.

The actor and the filmmaker later collaborated for "Arya 2", the 2009 follow-up that also featured Kajal Aggarwal and Navdeep.

After the "Arya" films, Arjun and Sukumar reunited for the 2021 blockbuster movie "Pushpa 1: The Rise", which went on to become one of the biggest money-spinners of the year earning over Rs 350 crore.

The film depicted the rise of a low-wage labourer (played by Arjun) in the smuggling syndicate of red sandalwood, a rare wood that grows only in the Seshachalam Hills of Andhra Pradesh state.

The duo are currently awaiting "Pushpa 2: The Rule", which is currently slated for release on August 15.