Vijay Deverakonda made his debut in Bollywood with Puri Jagannadh’s ‘Liger’ in 2022. Co-starring Ananya Panday, the film was shot in both Hindi and Telugu, generating significant buzz on social media prior to its release.
Despite the anticipation, Liger failed to perform at the box office, leaving fans and the actor himself disappointed. In a reflective interview, Vijay opened up about how he dealt with the film’s failure and the lessons it taught him.
According to a report from ETV Bharat, Vijay conveyed his thoughts upon Liger’s release. He stated, “There is no change in my attitude. I have remained the same before and after the release. The only difference is that I decided not to talk about the results of my films (before release) for the next three movies or so. That’s the punishment I gave myself.” As Vijay explained, this self-imposed silence is his method of “punishing” himself, highlighting his dedication to resilience in the workplace and personal development.
Vijay had been certain that ‘Liger’ would succeed. He shared, “I will start counting box office numbers after Rs 200 crore.” Unfortunately, both critics and viewers had differing opinions on the movie, despite the excitement preceding his pan-Indian debut.
‘Liger’ revolves around the story of a young and ambitious fighter named Liger, portrayed by Vijay Deverakonda, who comes from the streets of Mumbai and aspires to succeed in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Raised by his strong-willed single mother, played by Ramya Krishnan, Liger dedicates his life to training, fighting, and striving to become a national champion.