Vijay Deverakonda on ‘Family Star’: We have gone all out to give people an entertainer

Interview: Actor Vijay Deverakonda discusses his new film ‘Family Star’, opens up on what has mellowed him in recent times, learnings from ‘Liger’ and the business of cinema

On a balmy summer afternoon, with barely three days to go before the release of his new Telugu film Family Star, Vijay Deverakonda is a picture of calm. In a conversation with The Hindu at the film’s production office in Hyderabad, he reveals that at least 50 people known to the producer, the director and his own family members have watched the film, and there is an air of cheer and confidence. He has watched only the first half and his focus is now solely on promoting the film. 

One of the first video promos of Family Star summed up the essence of Vijay’s character, a combination of a family man and a star who flexes his muscles. The initial title in consideration, however, was different. “The original title was the hero’s name, Govardhan. In real life, this is my father’s name. In the film, the grandfather passes on this name to my character and believes that the boy can shoulder the family responsibilities,” says Vijay. Once the film went on floors, the team wanted a title representing someone in each family who makes everyone feel secure. “Every family has a star. We wanted a title that would resonate with everyone through that characterisation.”

Family Star, in which he shares the screen with Mrunal Thakur, is his second collaboration with director Parasuram Petla after Geetha Govindam (2018). “When I take a flight to travel, I most often interact with people; at almost every airport I come across people who tell me that they loved Geetha Govindam (GG) and ask me when I will do such a film again. This time, we went all out to try and ensure that the audience has a blast,” says Vijay.

A lot has changed since the times of GG. “Back then, we had nothing to lose,” Vijay recalls. “I was just winging it; I was a young boy happy that I was getting to live my dream of acting in films. I loved going to the sets and acting and did not think further. It took me a week to understand Parasuram’s style of working. Now, I vibe with him instantly; when a director knows that an actor understands what he wants, he has a blast. Our craft has improved; we understand a film’s structure and performance much better. There is also an added sense of responsibility.”

Family Star is billed as a film set in a middle-class milieu. Having grown up in a middle-class setting, did Vijay rely on his muscle memory of real-life observations to play the character with added familiarity and authenticity? “Certainly. Bujji (Parasuram) and I know how boys from middle-class families behave in certain situations. In college, if I liked a girl, I would appear cool and confident and not disclose that I didn’t have enough money. But ultimately, my budget will restrict me.”

Vijay points out that the film is not a close-to-reality depiction of a middle-class man’s journey. “This is a mainstream Telugu holiday entertainer. The way my character reacts to a conflict point is over the top and extreme, yet, it reflects how middle-class people can get upset. Govardhan’s extreme reaction makes the film entertaining.” 

Family Star went through several changes during its making and Vijay points out that it has helped the betterment of the film. However, there have been cases when changes have not helped certain films. He reckons that as an actor, he knows instinctively if things are on track or off the mark. “Several ideas come up as a film is being made and sometimes, new ideas help improve a film. Sometimes we know there is a problem that needs to be fixed.”