#pelli choopulu

Hi! Thanks for messaging me and for finding my account! 

I’m glad you asked because I think like you said, it’s been 4 years and from being a huge upcoming Vijay stan, I have become an ardent hater. It’s not so much hater as it is genuine disgust for his attitude. He’s not grown as an actor and in fact, he’s done the opposite. He boxed himself into a very specific type of role which reflects the sheer amount of disgusting toxic masculinity he flaunts and is now using that one angry-young-man role to carve a space for himself in the industry. Pelli Choopulu was the last good movie he’s done, and in fact, in retrospect, he wasn’t all that in that movie either because Ritu Varma carried the film more than he did. Arjun Reddy was a fat antic. It was an overhyped, disgusting antic that wouldn’t have passed if the gender roles were flipped a.k.a films and shows like Four More Shots Please. If Vijay Devarakonda does it, it’s a trend and hip. If someone like Samantha did it, it’s “feminism.” (which is a whole other story that Telugu and even Indian men need to educate themselves on). I don’t really care what anyone says like all the female stans who I see fawning over him (especially in NRI culture) is disturbing to me because it’s like to what extent are we willing to let displays of outright toxic masculinity and misunderstanding of regressive subjects be pushed under the rug because a man is good looking? Food for thought, to be honest. 

I mean, seriously. When Anupama Chopra asked him who his favorite actor is as an inspiration, he pointed fingers at Deepika and Alia because he thought they were pretty. And, when the discussion of women doing significantly more challenging roles comes up, he points at Ayushmann Khurrana and says “poor guy went bald for his film, that’s challenging.” Like what are you stupid, dumb, or emotionally unavailable to appreciate your costars? Another gem I’d like to point out is Raashi Khanna saying in an interview that when she was uncomfortable doing a sex scene, Vijay told her that it would level her up as an actor. When a woman’s body is in display against her comfort, a man has no right to tell her it’s for the art. Because in this day and age too, it’s her body despite it being a character. The genuine lack of sympathy this man has for anyone is so disturbing and the fact that his angry characters always lash out against women who walk out on his ass is disturbing. Everything about him is disturbing and untalented. I said what I said. 

All in all, he hasn’t grown as an actor at all nor as a person. He does the same role over and over again in the same voice modulation and thinks that’s talent. Likewise, he’s immensely immature as well. It doesn’t take a lot of work to makeout with someone or yell with fake blood on. But, apparently, he thinks it does. I’d rather see the likes of Vishwaksen and Srivishnu and Nani take the space in recognition than Vijay. It really should have been one of them at the interview than Vijay. 

(Also, I’m going to make this public just because I think it’s food for thought for everyone.)