When the cameras rolled for Liger, the buzz was about its box‑office flop, but behind the scenes, Vijay Deverakonda was on a very different mission.
He admitted that a single 200‑ml gulp was his lifeline, and when that was cut off, he resorted to licking an ice cube, swearing it was a cruel test of endurance.
Ananya Panday, co‑star in the Hindi‑language film, watched him battle dehydration, commenting later that it was a 'raw, almost primal display' that added authenticity to the on‑screen struggle.
The teaser for his next venture, Ranabaali, was released last month and already stirs excitement, offering a stark, famine‑plagued backdrop and a glimpse of the tense battlefield.
Directed by Rahul Sankrityan and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, Ranabaali follows a rebellious warrior confronting a British commissioner during the 1870s Great Famine, with Vijay as the eponymous Ranabaali and Rashmika Mandanna as his steadfast partner.
The film is slated for a theatrical release on October 16, 2026, promising a gritty and emotionally charged narrative that should prove a stark contrast to the challenges Vijay endured on Liger’s set.