Vijay Devarakonda: After Playing A Promiscuous Jerk I’m Playing A Virgin

Telugu star-actor Vijay Devarakonda, easily on of the most interesting performers to have hit Andhra cinema, who is busy picking awards for his exceptional performance in and as Arjun Reddy last year, is all set to unleash a new side to his personality in director Parasuram’s Geetha Govindam.

The new Telugu starrer, featuring Vijay as –hold your breath—an innocent virgin opens on 15 August.

Laughs Vijay, “He could easily be the hero of Sooraj Barjatya film. Saaf, swachh, saral and sundar, Govindam is as far removed from Arjun Reddy as humanly possible on the moral compass.”

To begin with Arjun liked to sow his old oats. Govindam is saving is cherry for his future wife.

Says Vijay, “Virginity is his status in life. It is a fact of his life , a badge of honour that he wears proudly. He will change his virgin status only when he meets the woman of his dreams and marries her. Govindam is the purest character I’ve played. Chaste from head to waist… After playing a guy who is a promiscuous jerk it is a relief to play a guileless virgin.I’ve played Govindam with utmost sincerity and not an iota of cynicism.”

The title Geetha Govindam obviously has mythological antecedents.

Says Vijay, “Geetha Govindam is originally an episode from the scriptures about Radha’s love for Krishn. Here in our film it’s about how the girl Geetha tortures the poor soul Govindam. I love her to death. But she terrifies me. I call her ‘Madame’. Seeing his plight even I feel kind of sorry for Govindam. He is so innocent and distanced from worldly connivance. His only dream is to marry a girl who will nurture him like his mother once used to and to one day get married to his dream woman is Govindam’s biggest dream in life. He constantly thinks of his ideal woman.A woman who is beautiful not just outside but also inside.”

Does Vijay aspire to the same level of idealized love in real life?

“Nah! One has to be more practical. Remember, if you are looking for ideal life so is the girl . So the ideal situation is to meet midway,” says Vijay who says he enjoyed playing this idealist.

“I had to google to get a definition on an idealist,” he jokes. “Govindam is a thorough all-round gentleman. It can’t get any more decent than this. I think after the way I threw my weight around in Arjun Reddy I needed to swerve to the other side. It’s time for me to be schooled in the art of how not to be an Arjun Reddy in real life. That’s what I call a perfect balance.”

Besides Geetha Govindam , Arjun has two other films ready for release. “I now have three films in various stages of completion.Taxiwaala, NOTA and of course Geetha Govindam which now comes first. It was suddenly imperative to release one of the three film the soonest before there was a pile-up of my starrers.’

Vijay is equally excited about all three films. “For me all the three film are of equal importance. It didn’t matter which of them was released first. I am happy Geetha Govindam is going out there. It’s a fun film and not at all angst-laden like Arjun Reddy. I am glad to play a bachelor whom girls can take home to their mothers.”