Actor Vijay Deverakonda opened up about his latest film Kingdom, directed by Gautam Tinnanuri, which is receiving strong responses in Telugu and Tamil markets. During a media interaction on Saturday, Vijay revealed that the film was initially titled Naga Devara but the team decided to change it to allow Jr. NTR’s upcoming movie to use the name Devara. He acknowledged the pressure surrounding Kingdom, stating that every film brings its own challenges, regardless of previous hits.
Sharing insights about the storyline, Vijay explained that the first installment primarily showcases Suri’s transformation from a constable to a king. He hinted that Kingdom Part 2 would feature a major star hero, while dismissing rumors about Rana’s involvement. Vijay underwent six months of special training and watched series like Vikings and The Last Kingdom to prepare for the physically demanding role. He also revealed that a song was removed from the final cut since its visuals had already been showcased before release.
Reflecting on his career, Vijay recalled auctioning his Arjun Reddy Best Actor award for ₹25 lakh to support charitable causes, noting that his remuneration for the film was only ₹5 lakh. Addressing criticism about his dialect, he said it is his natural voice and not a deliberate accent. Vijay is currently working on a Rayalaseema-based project with director Rahul Sankrityan and another distinctive film with Ravi Kiran Kola, praising both directors for their detailed and innovative approach to filmmaking.