New Delhi: Vijay Deverakonda addressed the criticism surrounding Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s films, including Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh and Animal, explaining why he continues to stand by the filmmaker despite the controversies surrounding his work.
During his appearance with wife Rashmika Mandanna on the second episode of Koffee With Karan Season 9, the actor shared his perspective on the backlash and the debate over the portrayal of flawed characters in cinema.
‘They’re not perfect, but they’re always very honest’
The conversation began when Karan Johar brought up Arjun Reddy, Vijay’s breakthrough Telugu film, and its Hindi remake, Kabir Singh. Both films attracted criticism for their depiction of romantic relationships and the aggressive, problematic behaviour of their male protagonists.
Johar also mentioned Vanga’s public reaction to the criticism and asked Vijay how he viewed the controversy at the time.
In a 2023 interview with Film Companion, Vanga pushed back against criticism of Kabir Singh, arguing that the film’s protagonist’s behaviour should not be conflated with his own views.
In response to Johar’s questions, Vijay defended the filmmaker’s approach, saying the protagonists, despite their flaws, displayed honesty. According to him, their flaws and complexity were central to the storytelling rather than an endorsement of their behaviour.
“They’re not perfect, but they’re always very honest,” Vijay said on KWK.
The actor noted that viewers often interpret fictional characters through their own experiences and perspectives, which can lead to contrasting responses to the same film. What one audience member sees as an exploration of human flaws, another may perceive as a troubling portrayal of relationships.
Vijay acknowledged that the criticism may have been particularly difficult for Vanga, given the filmmaker’s ambitions and expectations surrounding his work.
He suggested that Vanga’s response reflected his genuine feelings about the negative reviews, even as Arjun Reddy went on to achieve considerable commercial success.
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‘I’ll always support him’
However, Vijay told Johar that asking for his opinion on the filmmaker was largely pointless, given his unwavering support for him.
“Whatever Sandeep does, I’ll always support him,” the actor said.
Johar also shared his perspective, describing himself as an “admirer” of Vanga’s filmmaking. He clarified that his appreciation stemmed from his response to the director’s work rather than any personal friendship.
(Edited by Maryam Hassan)