Once hailed as India’s next biggest star, Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda’s career is now a textbook example of how flying too close to the sun can scorch even the brightest stars. With not a single box office success in the past seven years, Deverakonda’s “image” is now like a shadow of his past self. However, the actor is currently eyeing a massive comeback with Kingdom, a film in which both he and his fans have placed high hopes.
Recently, Deverakonda opened up about the setbacks he’s faced over the years, maintaining that had he belonged to a film family with a strong foundation and guiding voices, some of his missteps might have been avoided. He also mentioned that he moved forward with certain projects despite lacking full conviction in their scripts, simply because he felt he didn’t have the voice to demand refinement. Without explicitly using the word “nepotism”, he told The Hollywood Reporter India, “I was never in a position to tell a director… I don’t think people outside the industry will get this… but when you do not come from an ‘establishment’ of a sort and you do not have that support system, you do not have the space to tell the director that you are not ready to go to shoot yet with this script and that it needs more work.”
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He continued, “Whereas another actor, with similar experience but has the support around him, would know from childhood itself that he doesn’t have to go to shoot. Or his father will come and tell him, ‘No, spend two-three more months. I’ll get you two-three more writers.’ I never had that space, until recently. Now, if I’m not happy with something, I talk to the producers and directors, and say that ‘I will not shoot this because the producer’s money, the director’s career, and my face and the reputation I have built are all important.’”
Earlier in his career, Deverakonda said he often went along with projects despite doubts, simply because a producer insisted or a director believed in the vision. But today, he’s adopted a new approach. “Now, I’ve decided that if we do it, we should all be solidly happy with it in the first place. So, that’s something I’ve learned to do and found comfort in doing. I’ve found that place in life, the leverage and a sense of security to be able to have those conversations,” he added.
Since the success of Taxiwaala (2018), Deverakonda hasn’t had even a single hit and his subsequent films like Dear Comrade (2019), World Famous Lover (2020), Liger (2022), Kushi (2023) and The Family Star (2024) underperformed at the box office. The only success he tasted during this period was with the Prabhas-starrer Kalki 2898 AD (2024), in which he made a cameo appearance. Kingdom, helmed by Jersey director Gowtam Tinnanuri, will hit the screens on July 31.
