Actor Vijay Deverakonda expressed his strong desire to see a collaboration between Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Telugu icon Allu Arjun at the WAVES 2025 summit in Mumbai. Speaking during a panel moderated by filmmaker Karan Johar, Vijay shared how such a union of a Northern and Southern star could symbolically and culturally unite the country through cinema.
The Liger actor mentioned that Shah Rukh Khan’s recent blockbuster earned close to Rs 800–1000 crore, while Allu Arjun's film also crossed the Rs 1000 crore mark. He further stated that if these two stars from different regions came together in a film, it would unite the country and create a truly pan-Indian cinematic experience.
Addressing the ongoing debates around North versus South Indian cinema, the Kingdom actor called such conversations unproductive distractions. He believes the focus should shift from rivalry to collaboration, which he described as a more positive and forward-looking approach for the Indian film industry.
He further remarked that South Indian cinema has only recently gained national recognition. He said, “It was only recently that India discovered South cinema and started celebrating it on a national level. So I think it’s good for TRP, good for conversation, and makes for good headlines—something stimulating to talk about. But it’s not the most productive thing for the cinema. If we have to take on the giants of the world, we need to unite. We need to collaborate.”
On the work front, the actor is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film, 'Kingdom'. The film is a spy thriller directed and written by Gowtam Tinnanuri. It marks the first part of a planned two-part series. It stars Vijay Deverakonda in the lead role as Suri, alongside Bhagyashri Borse playing a medical student, and Satyadev in a significant role.
The Liger actor mentioned that Shah Rukh Khan’s recent blockbuster earned close to Rs 800–1000 crore, while Allu Arjun's film also crossed the Rs 1000 crore mark. He further stated that if these two stars from different regions came together in a film, it would unite the country and create a truly pan-Indian cinematic experience.
Addressing the ongoing debates around North versus South Indian cinema, the Kingdom actor called such conversations unproductive distractions. He believes the focus should shift from rivalry to collaboration, which he described as a more positive and forward-looking approach for the Indian film industry.
He further remarked that South Indian cinema has only recently gained national recognition. He said, “It was only recently that India discovered South cinema and started celebrating it on a national level. So I think it’s good for TRP, good for conversation, and makes for good headlines—something stimulating to talk about. But it’s not the most productive thing for the cinema. If we have to take on the giants of the world, we need to unite. We need to collaborate.”
On the work front, the actor is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film, 'Kingdom'. The film is a spy thriller directed and written by Gowtam Tinnanuri. It marks the first part of a planned two-part series. It stars Vijay Deverakonda in the lead role as Suri, alongside Bhagyashri Borse playing a medical student, and Satyadev in a significant role.
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