(Image source from: Instagram.com/thedeverakonda)

Once considered India's next major star, Telugu performer Vijay Deverakonda's journey now illustrates how even the brightest can dim when they soar too high. After not achieving a single box office win in the last seven years, Deverakonda's reputation now resembles a faint echo of his former self. Nevertheless, he is currently aiming for a significant return with Kingdom, a movie in which both he and his fans have high hopes. Recently, Deverakonda shared about the challenges he has encountered over the years, expressing that if he had been part of a film family with strong connections and wise mentors, some of his mistakes could have been avoided. He also pointed out that he accepted certain roles even when he wasn't completely convinced about the scripts because he felt he lacked the authority to request improvements.

Without directly mentioning "nepotism," he remarked, "I was never in a position to tell a director… I don’t think that people outside of the industry will understand this… but when you don’t come from a background like that and you lack that support system, you don’t have the freedom to tell a director that you aren’t ready to shoot yet with this script because it needs more work. He added, “On the other hand, another actor with similar experience but surrounded by support would know from a young age that he doesn’t have to go to shoot. Or his father would say, ‘No, take an extra two or three months. I’ll get you a couple more writers. ’ I never had that opportunity until recently. Now, if I’m not satisfied with something, I discuss it with the producers and directors, and I express that ‘I will not shoot this because the producer’s investment, the director’s career, and my image and the reputation I have built are all crucial’”.

Earlier in his journey, Deverakonda mentioned that he often accepted roles despite having reservations, simply because a producer pushed for it or a director had faith in the concept. But now, he's taken a different route. “Now, I’ve decided that if we do a project, we should all genuinely feel good about it from the start. That’s something I’ve learned to prioritize and found comfort in. I’ve established that position in my career, the ability and security to have those discussions,” he concluded.