Vijay Deverakonda’s latest film Kingdom is creating a storm at the box office and winning praise from both audiences and critics. Directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, the film also stars Satyadev, Bhagyashri Borse, and Venkatesh. It is produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, with Srikara Studios presenting it. Music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander. Released on July 31, Kingdom has been hailed as a visually stunning gangster drama with a strong emotional core.
Speaking about the film’s success, Vijay shared his happiness and future plans.
Vijay said that the love for the film has been overwhelming. “It’s not just the Telugu states. Even in other states and overseas, the response is massive. Kerala surprised me the most because we didn’t even release a Malayalam version, but people there are showing so much love. It feels amazing.”
He explained how success feels different to him now. “Earlier in my career, when a film became a hit, I only thought about getting more opportunities. After Pelli Choopulu, I was happy mainly because of what it would do for my career. But now, when a film becomes a hit, I feel more responsible. Before every release, there’s always pressure, and with Kingdom we felt it too. Once the first show ended and positive talk came in, I felt a huge relief and pure joy.”
Vijay praised director Gowtam Tinnanuri. “I really admire Gowtam’s ability to handle emotions and family bonds. When he told me the idea of making a gangster drama with a strong brotherly relationship, I loved it. Even in Jersey, which was emotional, there were powerful moments. Gowtam knows how to balance every aspect of filmmaking. In Kingdom, every action sequence has meaning and emotion behind it. Nothing is there just for style.”
Talking about the film’s sequel, Vijay revealed, “The story has many layers. It’s not just about the brothers; it also touches on patriotism and the journey of a tribal leader. We couldn’t cover everything in one film, so we decided to make two parts. In this part, we saw Suri’s journey to bring his brother Shiva back. The second part will be even bigger and better.”
The unique voting scenes in the film also grabbed attention. “When Gowtam first narrated it, he only mentioned there would be a voting sequence. Later, when he explained it involved guns and swords, I was surprised. It was so fresh and exciting, and that’s why audiences loved it.”
On preparing for his role, Vijay said, “I researched how people of that period spoke and dressed. I also worked on my physical transformation. I trained for six months to look bulkier and stronger, especially for the parts where Suri enters the empire to rescue his brother.”
For Vijay, the audience’s love is the biggest reward. “After the first show, many people called me and said, ‘Anna, we’ve scored a hit!’ That emotional connection means everything to me. It’s the best compliment I could ever get.”
He also spoke about the popular ship-pulling scene. “We shot it in extreme heat, and at that time, we were only focused on making it perfect. We never thought it would be called the ‘Jersey moment.’ Now, hearing people talk about it feels great.”
Many from the film industry have also praised Kingdom. “Sukumar garu called me after watching it and appreciated my work. I respect him a lot, so his words meant so much to me.”
On his long-awaited film with Sukumar, Vijay said, “We’ve wanted to work together since Arjun Reddy. He likes me as an actor too. I believe it will happen one day, but right now, I’m focusing on my current projects.”
He also spoke about his next films. “My next film is with Rahul Sankrityan, and it’s set in the Rayalaseema backdrop. I love the Seema dialect. After that, I will work with Ravi Kiran Kola on a story set in Andhra Pradesh. Both are very talented directors with fantastic scripts.”
Vijay concluded by saying, “Whatever I do, my only goal is to give a good film to the audience. The success of Kingdom has only made me want to work even harder.”