Every generation of cinema gets its own icon and that one actor who comes out of nowhere and completely changes the game. For Telugu cinema and beyond, that name is undoubtedly Vijay Deverakonda. He’s an actor that has a huge fan following amongst the youth. From his intense, career-defining roles to the easy-going, charming heroes, he has shown us his versatility and range. His films, whether they spark controversy or just pure joy, always manage to get people talking and, most importantly, rush to the theatres. Here’s a look into his top 5 highest-grossing movies that managed to grab the attention of fans and viewers.
Disclaimer: The worldwide box office collection figures mentioned below are based on reports from various reliable news and trade sources.
Geetha Govindam (Rs 125.60 crore)
Mahanati (Rs 84.30 crore)
Liger (Rs 60.80 crore)
Arjun Reddy (Rs 51 crore)
Taxiwaala (Rs 33 crore)
Geetha Govindam (Rs 125.60 crore)
This romantic comedy sits right at the top of the list, proving that sometimes, the simplest stories of love and goof-ups are what truly win hearts. Vijay Deverakonda played the role of Vijay Govind, a charming but quite awkward and nervous college professor. The story focuses on his funny yet complicated attempts to win over the sister of a man who is supposed to become his brother-in-law. It was a complete change of pace after his aggressive role in Arjun Reddy, showing that he could effortlessly do the innocent, boy-next-door character just as well. This film was a huge blockbuster. It brought in family audiences and young people alike in huge numbers. The music became a hit too, and the film’s light, feel-good nature was exactly what everyone wanted to see. Its huge worldwide earning of Rs 125.60 crore shows just how much people loved this sweet, feel-good film.
Mahanati (Rs 84.30 crore)
This was a biographical film about the legendary actress Savitri. While the movie mainly was based on her life, Vijay Deverakonda played the role of Vijay Anthony, a photojournalist who plays a crucial part in the story. Even though it wasn’t a film resting solely on his shoulders, his presence and performance were strong and memorable. He managed to stand out in an ensemble cast that included some of the biggest names in the industry. The film was a genuine critical and commercial success. People appreciated the honest storytelling and the moving performances. Its high collection of Rs 84.30 crore worldwide shows that audiences love good cinema, no matter who the main star is. It proved that Vijay is more than just a hero but also an actor who is happy to be part of meaningful and powerful cinema.
Liger (Rs 60.80 crore)
Liger was meant to be Vijay Deverakonda’s grand entry into the pan-India market, a huge-budget action film released in multiple languages. Vijay took on the role of a stammering MMA fighter, trained by a protective mother, who is determined to make it big. The buzz and hype before the movie’s release was huge, the kind you only see for a massive event film. Sadly, the film couldn’t live up to those huge expectations once it hit the screens. The response from both critics and the general audience was quite negative, which hurt its performance after the initial big opening weekend. Despite the mixed word-of-mouth, the huge scale of the release and the intense pre-release promotion meant it still managed to pull in a worldwide collection of Rs 60.80 crore.
Arjun Reddy (Rs 51 crore)
Now, this is the one that changed everything. Arjun Reddy is the film that truly launched Vijay Deverakonda into superstardom and made him a household name. He played the role of a brilliant but intensely short-tempered and self-destructive surgeon. The film was intense, controversial, and completely unconventional, and nothing like what audiences at that time were used to seeing. The boldness of the story and Vijay’s completely unhinged performance impressed everyone. Made on a very small budget, it collected a massive Rs 51 crore worldwide, which was huge for a film of its type at the time. Its success was so big that it was remade in Hindi as Kabir Singh and Tamil as Adithya Varma. Arjun Reddy was the film which truly announced Vijay Deverekonda on the big stage.
Taxiwaala (Rs 33 crore)
Bringing in the final spot on this list is a fun, smart horror-comedy called Taxiwaala. Vijay Deverakonda played Shiva, a college graduate struggling for a job who finally buys a vintage taxi, only to realize the car comes with its own scary, supernatural baggage. What makes this film’s success so interesting is that the complete movie was leaked online well before its theatrical release, a situation that could easily mean disaster for any film. Despite this huge setback, the movie’s engaging story, clever script, and Vijay’s performance convinced audiences to go watch it on the big screen anyway. The film was a solid hit, proving that if the content is good, people will still support it. The worldwide box office collection of Rs 33 crore is a proof of the film’s strong writing and Vijay’s star power, showing that the audience was willing to look past the leak just to experience the movie properly.
Looking at this list of films, one thing which becomes clear is that Vijay Deverakonda’s journey in cinema has been anything but ordinary. It’s a mix of huge, emotional blockbusters like Geetha Govindam, risky passion projects like Liger, and films that changed the game, like Arjun Reddy. What connects all these box office numbers is his ability to take on roles that feel real and flawed, which is what the audience connects with the most. He is a star who took chances, sometimes with massive success and sometimes with big lessons, but he always managed to draw people into the theatres. His top five grossers show his journey from an outsider making an impact to becoming one of the most bankable and watched actors of his generation. As his career continues to grow and change, we can only wait with excitement to see what new stories and box office records Vijay Deverakonda is set to bring forth next.
