The man who gained popularity all over India without even debuting in the popular Hindi film industry is none other than Vijay Devarakonda. This ‘Rowdy’ star of the south Indian film industry is known for his roles in Yevade Subramanyam Arjun Reddy and Geetha Govindam. An actor par excellence, he is set to make his Bollywood debut with ‘Liger’ opposite Ananya Pandey.
Let’s know more about the life of Vijay Devarakonda:
Personal Life
Deverakonda Vijay Sai, aka Vijay Devarakonda, was born on May 9, 1989, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now in Telangana). His family involves his father, Govardhan Rao, his mother, Madhavi and his younger brother Anand Devarakonda. He had his schooling till 10th standard from the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School in Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh and has graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
Professional Career
South Indian Film Industry
In 2011, he made his south Indian film industry with a Telugu romantic comedy titled ‘Nuvvila’. After this, he appeared in ‘Life is Beautiful and ‘Yevade Subramanyam’ in supporting roles. He got his first break in 2016 with ‘Pelli Choopulu’ which became a commercial hit. In 2017, he appeared in a film titled ‘Dwarka’.
After this movie, he gave the first blockbuster of his career ‘Arjun Reddy’. While his portrayal in the film was appreciated, the film also received criticism. He was also ranked in the Film Companion’s 100 Greatest Performances of the Decade in 2019.
Following Arjun Reddy, he did ‘Ye Mantramm Vesave’and ‘Mahanati’. In 2018, he gave his next career-best film ‘Geetha Govindam’. He then acted in ‘NOTA’, ‘Taxiwala’, and ‘Dear Comrade’. His last release was ‘World Famous Lover’ in 2020.
Hindi Film Industry
He is all set to make his Bollywood debut with ‘Liger’, a bilingual film shot in Hindi and Telugu simultaneously. The film will release on August 25, 2022.
Other than acting
Apart from acting, he has been the brand ambassador of Zomato. He also launched Rowdy Wear’s fashion brand in 2018, later launching on Myntra 2020. He also runs the Devarakonda Foundation, a nonprofit organisation, and he contributed during the COVID-19 Pandemic by providing essentials to the needy.
Awards and Recognition
Vijay Devaraknda has won the following awards for his work:
- Nandi Award for Special Jury Award for Yevade Subramanyam in 2015
- Zee Golden Award for Best Actor for Arjun Reddy in 2017
- Filmfare Award South for Best Actor – Telugu for Arjun Reddy in 2018
- South Indian International Movie Award for Best Actor (Critics) – Telugu for Geetha Govindam in 2019
- Ranked 72 in Forbes India Celebrity 100 List in 2018
- Ranked 4 in The Times Most Desirable Men in 2018
- Ranked 3 in The Times Most Desirable Men in 2019
- Ranked 2 in The Times Most Desirable Men in 2020
What next?
Vijay Devarakonda was last seen in Dharma Productions’ Liger. He is filming for a Telugu rom-com film titled ‘Kusi’. Devarakonda is also filming for ‘Jana Gana Mana’ opposite Pooja Hegde, which will release in August next year.
