Vijay Deverakonda Addresses “The” Controversy: “If People Don’t Want It, I Don’t Either”

Actor Vijay Deverakonda has candidly opened up about the unexpected and “crazy amount” of backlash he faced for briefly adding “The” before his name during the promotions of his 2022 film, Liger. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, the popular Telugu star addressed the controversy head-on, explaining the rationale behind the decision and his eventual choice to drop it.

Deverakonda expressed his surprise at the intensity of the criticism, highlighting the irony that while many other actors in the industry commonly use various “taglines” or prefixes – from “Universal Star” to “People’s Star” – he was perhaps the only one to face such a strong negative reaction for a seemingly simple addition. “There was a crazy amount of backlash because ‘The’ was added to my name. Interestingly, no other person ever got backlash for something like that,” he stated.

The actor revealed that the idea to incorporate a tag initially came from his marketing team. He confessed that he had resisted the notion for a long time, preferring to be known simply by his given name. However, during the Liger promotions, media outlets frequently assigned him various nicknames such as “Rowdy Star” or “Southern Sensation.” Deverakonda found the latter particularly “limiting,” feeling it boxed him into a regional identity when his ambition was to be recognized across India.

In an effort to find a neutral yet distinctive descriptor, they settled on “The Vijay Deverakonda,” hoping it would be minimal and unique. Yet, even this subtle alteration drew significant flak from a section of the audience and social media users.

Reflecting on the experience, Deverakonda ultimately decided to revert to his original name. “If people don’t want it, then I don’t want it either. I told my team – just call me Vijay Deverakonda. That’s how I want to be known. Nothing more, nothing less,” he affirmed, emphasizing his desire for simplicity and authenticity in how he is perceived by his audience. He even mentioned that he has instructed his team not to add his name to posters, preferring audiences to connect with his characters rather than his star persona.

Deverakonda is now gearing up for the release of his upcoming spy thriller, Kingdom, directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri (Jersey), which is slated to hit cinemas on July 31. Despite the past controversies and the pressures of the industry, the actor remains focused on his craft and connecting with his audience on his own terms.