'I can't have an arranged marriage'

“It’s always a pleasure to come to Chennai, as the people shower me with love whenever I am here. The last time I visited the city was during my debut Tamil film Nota,” said Vijay Deverakonda, who arrived flashing his dazzling smile.
He noted that Samantha, his co-star in the unconventional love story Khushi, takes pride in being a Chennaiite. “I know how Sam is fond of calling herself ‘Pallavaram Girl’. Presently, she is in the US. I have been updating her through messages since the moment I touched down in Chennai,” he shared. At a time when sobriquets or tags are prevalent among big stars, the Arjun Reddy actor prefers to be called ‘The Vijay Deverakonda.’ “Yes, it means I am ‘the only one’ and there is none like me.  I love my name. It’s the name my parents gave me. People call me by my name. I believe my name should do the job instead of any tags attached to it,” he says.

Replying to a question whether he has been bullied with reference to a dialogue in the teaser where he mentions being a feminist at heart, he says, “No one has bullied me so far. As far as films are concerned, it all depends on the scripts, and the director takes a call. Personally, I am a chilled-out guy! I’ve become familiar with terms like ‘misogyny’ and ‘feminist’ only in the last few years. I believe in ‘live and let live’ and don’t think anyone should be dictated to.”

Asked about his thoughts on marriage, Vijay revealed, “I am not averse to it. But I should be mentally prepared. I can’t have an arranged marriage. I need to know the girl beforehand and spend time with her before deciding. Also, she has to bond with my family, especially my mother.”

On the professional front, he expressed his belief in every script he has chosen. “Though many may not agree with my views, every script I chose so far was terrific. However, some have missed out due to various factors, such as mistakes on our end as creators, in the making, timing, and delivery.” As for the movie, Vijay said, “I was keen to be part of Kushi. I feel this time around we have all done our job properly.” On producing films, Vijay said, “I bankrolled two movies. But it’s a different kind of pressure, and I no longer enjoy the process. Maybe in the future, I will give chances to budding talents.”

Regarding the fact that he hasn’t done any Tamil film after Nota, he said, “I feel uncomfortable acting in a language I am not conversant with. I did Liger, as I’m fluent in Hindi. However, I have signed on with two Tamil directors.”
The actor also stressed that stars like Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi should not be judged by their successes or failures.

“They are idols far bigger than these things. Rajini Sir can give six flops and bounce back with a film like Jailer. So, we all have to ‘shut up’ and watch. Chiru Sir changed the Telugu industry with his dance, acting and performance. He is an inspiration to many. All these actors, including Kamal Haasan, have done so much work and kept the audience entertained, creating an ecosystem where people enjoy going to films. They have forged a path, giving younger generations the opportunity to make cinema.”