Vijay Deverakonda on ‘The’: Just my name

Vijay Deverakonda has finally opened up about the buzz around his decision to prefix his name with The. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor explained that the move wasn’t about ego but about rejecting limiting labels often attached to stars.

He shared that during the promotions of Liger, his team suggested adopting a tagline like many others in the industry. Media outlets had already coined terms like Southern Sensation and Rowdy Star for him. But those labels didn’t sit right with him. They felt limiting, Vijay said. I’m from India, and I want to be known all over the country, not just as a star from the South.

Instead of choosing a flashy or regional nickname, he decided to use The as a minimal and symbolic addition. Everyone else had some sort of tagline, and I was probably the only one without one. I didn’t want anything extra. So I said, if you really need one, just use ‘The’. That’s enough.

Though the move sparked backlash and jokes online, Vijay remains unfazed. People said, ‘How can you call yourself The?’ That’s the point. I don’t want any labels. Even ‘The’ might be too much. Vijay Deverakonda is enough.

His statement reflects a desire to be recognized for his work and name alone—without needing catchy titles or regional tags to define him.