Vijay Deverakonda, the heartthrob of Telugu cinema, has often found himself embroiled in controversies, raising questions about his choices and behavior both on and off-screen. Let’s delve into five instances where the actor stirred up the media and public opinion.
1. Behavior in Films like Arjun Reddy: Vijay’s portrayal of characters like Arjun Reddy garnered both acclaim and criticism. The film’s depiction of toxic masculinity and its treatment of female characters sparked debates about misogyny in cinema. His on-screen behavior, including slapping female characters, raised eyebrows and ignited discussions about the representation of women in cinema.
2. Attitude Before Liger Release: Before “Liger” hit the screens, Vijay Deverakonda faced criticism for his attitude towards the media, with some labeling it as overly casual. At a public event, he received backlash for putting his feet up on a table during interactions with reporters. When questioned about some of these controversies, Vijay Deverakonda displayed a defiant attitude, stating that he wasn’t afraid of anything, citing his confidence in himself and the support he receives from his loved ones.
3. Problematic Lines in The Family Star: Vijay faced backlash for a particular scene in “The Family Star,” where his character issues a problematic threat against women. Viewers criticized both Vijay and the film’s director for the portrayal of such dialogues, questioning the responsibility of actors and filmmakers in shaping societal perceptions.
4. Body-Shaming Co-Star: In an old interview, Vijay made insensitive remarks about his co-star Rashmika Mandanna’s physique, casually referring to her as Dangal due to her muscular appearance. He said, “Because if we’re in Hyderabad, she’ll go to [the] gym twice a day. And, we’re scared she’ll become one beast by the time. At one point in the film, she was more muscular than me”. He continues: “She is deadlifting like 60 kgs, 70 kgs… I have ensured that she stops lifting weights because she was… We were calling her ‘Dangal’. We’re like you look like that… These wrestlers.” While tries to salvage his insensitive remarks by saying that Rashmika Mandanna plays a cricketer in the film so it’s okay if she had a muscular physique. But, he doesn’t budge. Instead, he chooses to double down. It’s heartbreaking that body-shaming women has been normalised to the extent where men like Vijay Devarkonda don’t think twice before mouthing judgmental comments about the bodies of the women they claim to respect and love.
5. Controversial Statements on Misogyny: Vijay’s statements defending films like Arjun Reddy against accusations of misogyny stirred further controversy. Despite acknowledging the potential triggers for audiences, his defense of such narratives raised questions about his understanding of gender dynamics and sensitivity towards diverse perspectives. Also, his portrayal of male characters in films like Arjun Reddy and Family Star and how they treat female characters raised big concern. In both movies, his characters are shown slapping the heroines, which some people see as glorifying toxic masculinity instead of heroism.
