‘If my confidence looks like attitude, should I become smaller?’: Vijay Deverakonda hits back at critics

Vijay Deverakonda says he will not change himself to please his critics as he opens up about ‘Ranabaali’, a period drama directed by Rahul Sankrityan and co-starring Rashmika Mandanna.

Vijay Deverakonda has a pointed message for those who mistake his confidence for arrogance. Speaking at the trailer launch of his upcoming film ‘Ranabaali’ in Hyderabad, the actor said he would not change himself or give up on his ambitions just because some people misunderstand his personality.

“If my honesty looks like arrogance to them, and my confidence looks like attitude to them, should I become smaller? If my journey is not understood by them, should I sit at home? I will not change. They have to change,” Vijay said at the event.

The actor also called out social media users who, he alleged, were deliberately spreading negativity about him. He urged people to focus on improving their own lives rather than trying to pull others down.

Vijay was speaking about the criticism surrounding him ahead of the release of ‘Ranabaali’, in which he plays a warrior from Rayalaseema. The film, directed by Rahul Sankrityan and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, is set against the backdrop of the Great South Indian Madras Famine of 1876–78.

Vijay Deverakonda calls ‘Ranabaali’ a career highlight

At the trailer launch, Vijay said he believed ‘Ranabaali’ would remain one of the major highlights of his career. He praised Rahul Sankrityan's writing, describing the film as one of the strongest scripts to come out of Telugu cinema this year.

The actor said the director had built an entire world around the story, with characters such as Ranabaali, Jayamma and Hector, alongside the village of Shinganamala. He also credited the filmmaker with weaving the historical backdrop of the famine into a story rooted in Telugu culture and mass-hero elements.

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Vijay said he was proud to be part of a film that seeks to bring lesser-known historical accounts and stories preserved through folk traditions, including Burrakathas, to a wider audience.

The actor also encouraged audiences to watch the film with their families, saying its story would help them reflect on the hardships their ancestors endured.

Rahul Sankrityan on the history behind ‘Ranabaali’

Director Rahul Sankrityan revealed that the film began taking shape after he came across the story of a warrior from Rayalaseema through the Burrakatha tradition, a form of oral storytelling.

His subsequent research into the region's history led him to the Great South Indian Madras Famine, which affected several parts of southern India between 1876 and 1878.

Rahul said he read books, travelled to different places and met historians while researching the famine. He was struck by accounts of the scale of starvation and suffering during the period and felt the story deserved to be told to a wider audience.

According to the director, the project took four years to develop. He approached Vijay for the role because he wanted an actor who could bring the image of a powerful warrior to life while committing to the physical demands of the character.

Producer Ravi Shankar also praised Vijay's preparation, particularly his work on the Rayalaseema dialect, the character's mannerisms and horse riding. He defended the actor against online criticism, urging audiences to recognise the effort he puts into his films.

‘Ranabaali’ release date and cast

‘Ranabaali’ stars Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles, with Arnold Vosloo and others in the cast. The film is directed by Rahul Sankrityan and produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar under the Mythri Movie Makers banner. It is presented by T-Series Films.

The period drama features music by Ajay–Atul and cinematography by Nirav Shah and Jishnu Bhattacharjee.

‘Ranabaali’ is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on October 16, coinciding with the Dussehra festive season.