Vijay Devarakonda had a fabulous year!

He not only had  four releases, he also branched into various directions. Telugu cinema’s fastest-rising star speaks to  Subhash K Jha

How would you describe the year that was?

I cannot complain. Lots of work, four  releases, two leaked films, success, failures, playback singing, troubles and troubleshooting, launching my own clothing line, launching my own production house. I am alive.

You had four very different releases. How do you look back at the three releases ? anything that you would have done differently ?

Lots of learning experiences  this year.I  learnt  how insensitive  the movie piracy  business can be when my film Taxiwala was leaked  months  before release.  But I take the  setbacks  in my stride, I only look forward.

2018 has most decidedly taken your stardom to the next level. How do you intend to use the power that comes with this stardom ?

I have no idea. I  don’t even know whether I am star  or that  I have  any power, When I  see people  on the streets smiling and waving out to me I feel spacial. Otherwise I live by the day.

Which , if any, were the films in 2018 that you wished you had done ?

KGF.  I haven’t seen it. But its trailer blew my mind. I lost sleep for a few nights. It’s good too see regional films  breaking the  barriers and crashing through the glass ceiling.

There is an acute shortage of female stars in Indian cinema. Does that bother/affect you?

As long as I find  a co-star for the stories I have to say, I am sorted . When I have  the co-stars that my film needs the shortage doesn’t exist for me.

Sit back, enjoy and watch me do my thing , whatever it is.Believe I have lots to do  that has never been done  before in Telugu cinema.

What should your fans expect from you in 2019?

The job is a very physical one and injuries are going to happen, we are running dancing fighting jumping. Lots of precautions were taken on my set but when you are shooting so much action, stuff happens.Things cannot always be in your control. But I love bruises, I find them super cool.

You recently injured yourself while shooting? do you think such mishaps while on location can be avoided? Do you think enough is done for the safety of stars ?

Finally the nation wants to know why is Vijay Deverakonda still single ?

The nation doesn’t know because Vijay Devarakonda doesn’t want them to know