The first time I met him, he was taking baby steps in the Telugu film industry. Even though he had four releases, he had yet to hit the mark. Arjun Reddy hadn’t been released as yet. But there was a lot of excitement in the air.. He was being touted as the next big thing…on the cusp of super stardom…We’d approached him to host the Filmfare Awards, South along with Allu Shirish. And boy was he excited! He was gentle, shy and grounded. His sharp wit stood out even then. He did a fab job of hosting, while at it. There was no doubt in my mind that he was slated for bigger things. And he didn’t disappoint. Arjun Reddy was a huge hit. And a superstar was born. He even won the Best Actor In A Leading Role (Male) Award for the film…He set the ball rolling and there was no looking back.
Years later I meet him again at the photoshoot for our cover story. He’s come a long way since we last met. Vijay Deverakonda is a pan Indian star today. You’ve heard about how South Indian stars are so professional… you see it in person. He walks into the studio at the dot of twelve, smiling gently. He greets everyone… there’s no shosha, no starry air… no trappings of stardoms, no outlandish demands. He gets ready fast, shoots even faster. And before you know the shoot is over. Just like that. If only everyone was as easy. As we settle down for a tête-à -tête, he opens up…Talking candidly at times and in measured tone at other. Read on:
What’s on your mind right now?
There is always a lot on my mind about Kingdom and its promotions as we hurl towards the release. We are within like 20 days from the release. I am also thinking about my prep for my next film. I want to be happy with my preparation for my next. It’s a film that I start in June and I need to physically look different. It’s a different language, I need to speak. It’s an extremely different character in terms of performance, so I want to be happy with the amount of time I have given myself to prepare. Besides I’m travelling, doing interviews and shooting and doing promotions and a million other things. My business is on my mind, in about 20 minutes, I have a meeting for my clothing line RWDY. We are soon to launch our summer collection and we are expanding our off-line stores. The state of my body is on my mind because my shoulders are hurting from a long game of pickleball. I played late last night. I use pickleball as a sort of a break. I cannot be idle. I cannot just rest in bed in my room because my mind continues to race, so I use sport as a break. Because when I play sports for those one-two hours, all I’m focused on is one ball. On instinct, one quick decision to outplay your opponents. I love sport but my shoulders are a bit overworked from all my workouts from riding horses, from shooting action and then playing pickleball. There are some shoulder injuries that I’ve picked up over the years, which I continue to put more and more load on, so it tends to get worse.
I actively work on it as well to help keep it in check. While I speak to you… I’m also hungry. So that’s another thing on my mind. I have to travel to Chennai this evening. So I am thinking about that. There’s a bunch of things I need to get done whilst I am in Chennai. There’s like 20 odd windows open in my head all multi-tasking.
Tell us something about your upcoming film Kingdom?
Kingdom is a thick layered action drama. It is an action drama like the old days, where you get into the emotions behind everything... not just chasing the spectacle. It is a form of cinema that I love watching and so it is a cinema that I am happy to have made. Kingdom is a film where I first okayed the director before a script. I knew I wanted to work with Gowtam Tinnanuri, he is a terrific storyteller and has a great eye for the way he tells it. His and my paths were meant to cross. And then we have a terrific team behind it. Almost everyone on the team is a National Award winner. So imagine a bunch of National Award winners coming together to make an action drama.
How excited are you about it?
How excited are you about it?
There are nerves and there is excitement but more than anything I’m happy with what we’ve made. So there is not much else that I can feel about this movie, other than probably relief that it does well. And the producer makes his money and the people who buy the film, make their money and that the people who made this film for, which is the world, loves it. So I think all that is left is to feel a sense of relief and satisfaction of finishing a job well.
Do you think this is going to be a make or break film for you?
Everything makes you a little and breaks you a little. Every experience in life is shaping you.. by making bits of you and breaking bits of you. It is all part of the journey.
Do you remember your first film Nuvvila? How do you look back at it today?
Do you remember your first film Nuvvila? How do you look back at it today?
I do not look back much.
Your cameo in Kalki 2898 AD was much talked about? What made you say yes to the role? Will we see you in the sequel?
Nag Ashwin gave me my first break. And I will always do whatever he asks of me. He believes I am his lucky charm, I have all the more reason to turn up just for a day if need be. Because I want everything he does to do super duper amazingly well. He is a rare good soul whom I love.
You obviously share a close bond with him. You’ve done all his films, right?
You obviously share a close bond with him. You’ve done all his films, right?
I’ve appeared in all of them, yes.
Which other director are you close to?
I’m very close to my first three directors. Nag Ashwin, Tharun Bhascker and Sandeep Reddy Vanga. These boys I will get into a fight for. We fought together to be where we are, so we have been bonded by the fight to survive.
You worked with Nani in Yevade Subramanyam… After that you haven’t done a two-hero project. Why is that?
No script came our way, with an idea that suited both of us. Someday we will.
How do you see Arjun Reddy today?
I’ll always love it.
Critics have called Arjun Reddy misogynistic. What’s your take on it?
I understand their take and I am ok with it. My job as an actor is to understand him and play him…not judge him. And the objective of any story is to create a conversation, to create an emotional impact and reaction. Whatever POV that might be.
Would you do Arjun Reddy again today?
100 per cent.
What do you think about the Hindi version?
I was super happy for Sandeep and Shahid (Kapoor) and Kiara (Advani)...Sandeep’s success and happiness is important to me. Will always be.
What’s your take on Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s subsequent film Animal?
Again it had lots of my favourite people. I was happy it became a huge success and we
celebrated it.
Your Hindi film Liger didn’t do well? Did you feel it was going all wrong while you were shooting it?
No, I was obsessed with my character, learning martial arts, building my physique to look like a fighter, figuring out the stammer. Everything about the role was so challenging that I completely enjoyed the process of making it. Growing up, I was a huge fan and admirer of director Puri Jagannadh, his film Pokiri with Mahesh Babu sir is one of my favourites and it was a dream of mine to make a film with him. I was extremely sad that we didn’t make a better film, it was a great idea on paper that we fudged…but I have zero regret about the film. It taught me so much and changed me so much. And a lot of what I do now and in the future has some learnings from the experience of making Liger and the aftermath of its release. I consider it a net win in life.
How different is it working in Hindi and Telugu film industry?
I am yet to work fully here but I loved working with the Dharma marketing team. They were young, full of energy and super fast. Just the way I like.
How do you approach the linguistic and cultural differences between different film industries? Since you’ve also worked in Tamil films?
You take as much help as possible. From the director, hire a trainer who knows the specifics of the dialect and language well and do some work with him... and then give it your best shot.
Which genre or character type interests you the most?
I love action dramas and action comedies.
To make a handful of films that are loved, that give you company when you need it, that you can make memories with, that possibly inspire you through the screen or lift your spirits.
How do you deal with the pressure of showbiz?
Everyone is dealing with some pressure of their own. A 12 grade student is dealing with the pressure of their board exams, a father somewhere is dealing with the pressures of making ends meet and providing, a mother somewhere is dealing with the pressures of the wellbeing of her children and I am dealing with the pressures of work. It’s normal. It’s ok.
You can never be prepared enough. It will be a journey and you will learn on the way, you will find your feet along the way. But always know it is you that shines, each one of us is different on a DNA level. And that difference is why you are so interesting. If that wasn’t there, we would all be robots. There is a lot more I want to tell them but on a different day, on a different stage. For now, I navigate acting, stardom, the industry and life as much as for me, as for those who will come after.. to share what I face and learn, to make it a tad bit easier for them if I can…
Your brother is also an actor. what advice do you give him?
(Smiles) I do not. Anand finds his own ways… and he watches me closely, so he learns from my wins and mistakes...
Can actors be friends? Who are you close to?
You can, if you find others who share the philosophy of live and let live. That there is enough love to go around, enough stories to tell. There are a few good men but I cannot take names without causing undue chaos…so there shall be no names taken.
You’ve experienced both extreme success and criticism. How have the extremes shaped your mindset as an actor and a person?
That is life. It would be boring otherwise. Don’t the greatest stories and movies all have great highs and lows. That is what makes a story memorable.
What did you learn from the quieter phases in your career?
When was it quiet? It never is. Every day is a learning experience.
Has the commercial pressure post Arjun Reddy shaped your creative instincts?
More than the pressure there is a responsibility towards your producer who is investing money, responsibility to the audience, responsibility to your fans, responsibility to the buyers. In the beginning of my career these were things I wasn’t aware of and had no knowledge about, hence I did not consider them. It was just me telling stories I liked. Now I’m more aware of them and feel a responsibility towards them. Yes, I do factor them.
What would you consider your biggest personal win in a film that may not have done well at the box office?
I learnt a lot from Liger. From prepping, filming, promoting and dealing with the after effects of its release. What I started during Liger in terms of training, physical discipline and other lifestyle changes, have become an integral part of how I live life even today.
What would you say today to a younger Vijay?
I would tell him to chill, laugh more, stress less and whatever you are doing, you are doing well because the future YOU is going to be a phenomenon. He is going to be everything that you dream of being and more.
Do you feel the pressure to maintain a certain image after becoming a pan Indian star?
I will always just be me.
Which of your characters do you relate to the most and why?
There are bits of me, my life, my emotions , my experiences in each character I play.
Has there been a role you have regretted accepting or rejecting?
None.
What keeps you grounded despite your success?
All that matters to me is that I do work that I enjoy, I feel respected, that I have family and friends who love me. That everyone around me is happy. I’m contributing productively to the people around me and to society. Beyond that ground, sky, water doesn’t concern me.
Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
My Dad.
What’s your idea of success?
The feeling of living upto your potential is success. The failure to do so is failure.
You’ve repeatedly collaborated with Rashmika Mandana on screen. How has your on-screen chemistry evolved?
I haven’t done enough movies with Rashmika. I should do more. She is a great actress. She is a beautiful woman. So chemistry shouldn’t be a problem.
Tell us about her good qualities and her bad ones.
Good: She is crazy hardworking. She can beat anything with her will and determination. She is too kind and prioritises everyone’s comfort and happiness over hers. Bad: Same as of the above. She needs to find a little balance.
Industry insiders often link the two of you? How true are those stories?
Industry insiders often link the two of you? How true are those stories?
Ask the insiders.
Are you planning to marry soon?
Someday I’ll for sure.
What qualities are you looking for in your wife?
Currently not looking for a life partner.
Does Rashmika fit the bill?
Any good woman with a good heart fits the bill.
What’s your best 10 year plan?
I hope I’m having fun with my favourite people around me.
Also Read: Vijay Deverakonda’s Kingdom To Release On This Date
Also Read: Vijay Deverakonda’s Kingdom To Release On This Date
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