Vijay Deverakonda – Telugu star of ‘Arjun Reddy’ fame

Vijay Deverakonda is a youth sensation and popular Telugu actor, who earned fans across the country, after playing the famed titular role in 2017 smash hit, Arjun Reddy. He shot to instant fame after the film’s success and its craze spread across the nation, though it’s a regional film. Earlier he was known by the second lead role in 2015 movie Yevade Subramanyam. He joined film industry as a supporting actor in 2011, and rose to prominence in 2015 with Yevade Subramanyam. He became an overnight sensation with the release of Arjun Reddy and the film also earned cult status. Shahid Kapoor reprised his titular role in Hindi version titled Kabir Singh.

His supporting role in Nuvvila (2011) marked his screen debut

Vijay Deverakonda was born in Hyderabad. His father Deverakonda Govardhan Rao is a TV serial director. After studies he had a brief stint with theatre group – Sutradhar and also did a three-month workshop before pursuing a career in acting. He was first seen in a supporting role in Nuvvila (2011) as Yami Gautam’s deceased lover followed by a brief role in Life is Beautiful, and after that he started accepting character roles. Interestingly both these films fared well at box office, and Vijay had to wait for three long years. His film – Ye Mantram Vesave in a lead role, initially supposed to get release in 2013 had a delayed release in 2018.

Yevade Subramanyam became a turning point of his career

Vijay Deverakonda in ‘Arjun Reddy’

His third film Yevade Subramanyam released in 2015 became a hit, and his performance as Nani’s friend got noticed. Though it was a supporting role, which can be tagged as an extended cameo, Vijay was very much benefited with the movie’s success. His screen presence left a mark in audiences’ hearts. His friendship with Nag Ashwin in film sets helped him to get this role. There was no turning back after that.

Arjun Reddy and Geetha Govindam are his famous roles

Vijay went on to sign films in lead role, and his role as a frustrated lover in Arjun Reddy made him a youth icon. The role also earned him Filmfare award for best actor (Telugu). It was followed by the big success of two films – Geetha Govindam and Taxiwala in 2018. Dwaraka, Pelli Choopulu, NOTA, Mahanati etc are other releases. Dear Comrade and World Famous Lover are his latest releases, which couldn’t repeat the success of Geetha Govindam.

Vijay Deverakonda – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. His father came to Hyderabad to become an actor, but later became a serial director. Vijay takes inspiration from his father a lot.

2. His schooling was done at peaceful and calm atmosphere of ashram at Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School for boys in Puttaparthi. It deeply influenced his character development.

3. Since the age of 5 he stayed in hostel, which gave him the willpower to solve every problem.

4. He is interested in sports and books. He is also attracted to storytelling, writing and movies.

5. Pelli Choopulu in 2016 was his first movie as a lead actor. It happened five years after his film debut in 2011.

6. He turned down the supporting role of Krishnamachari Srikanth in the Hindi film ‘83’ which stars Ranveer Singh in the lead role.

7. At the age of 25, he had to close his bank account at Andhra Bank due to insufficiency of cash. At that time his father asked him to settle all his problems. By the age of 30 his name was included in Forbes’ Magazine’s Achievers’ list of 30.

8. During his younger days, he had stage fear. But he loved to perform on stage. During his school days, he used to write plays and appeared on stage for brief roles too.

9. Since most of his school days were spent in Puttaparthi which had a mixed culture, he mostly spoke English. For summer vacation, when he comes to hometown, his conversation becomes a mix of English and Telugu. In Arjun Reddy, it became a character style.

10. After 5 or 10 years, he wants himself to be remembered for a new film role or character, not Arjun Reddy. That means he wants to grow as an actor taking more challenging roles.

11. Like all youngster males, he also fears the loss of hair and baldness.

12. He shares his birthday with popular south Indian actress and youth sensation, Sai Pallavi.