...
...
Next Story

Vijay Deverakonda recalls cutting down on drinking water in unhealthy diet during Liger shoot: ‘Was licking ice cube’

Liger, which marked Vijay's Bollywood debut co-starring Ananya Panday, tanked at the box office upon release in 2022.

Published on: Oct 4, 2026, 07:48:19 IST
Advertisement

Vijay Deverakonda is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Ranabaali. The actor's Hindi-language debut with Liger failed to impress the audience when it released in theatres in 2022. In the film, Vijay played an underdog mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter with a severe stutter who rises from the streets of India to the international stage.

What Vijay said

Liger saw Vijay Deverakonda play an MMA fighter. (MINT_PRINT)
Liger saw Vijay Deverakonda play an MMA fighter. (MINT_PRINT)

Vijay has also undergone a physical transformation for Ranabaali, where he plays a fierce, rebellious warrior and freedom fighter. In a chat with Sudhir Srinivasan, Vijay revealed that how this is not the first time that he has had to make a physical transformation. But it was not as unhealthy like the time he underwent in Liger.

Vijay said, “During Liger, I had to slowly cut down on water. In the last 10 hours before the shoot, you're not drinking water. You're just licking an ice cube. It is not healthy at all. Every second, from the time I was drinking 300 ml of water a day, every minute you're just like: water, water, water. That's all you need. That's all you want at that moment.”

About Liger

Liger was directed by Puri Jagannadh and was shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu. Apart from Vijay and Ananya, the film also starred Ramya Krishnan and Ronit Roy, along with a cameo from Mike Tyson. Made on a budget of ₹125 crore, the film earned only ₹60 crore.

Directed by Rahul Sankrityan, Ranabaali is set in 19th century, South India, and explores a British-made famine. Vijay's character, Ranabaali is a furious rebel from a royal lineage driven by regional anger rises up to protect his starving people and defy the cruel British commissioner, Sir Theodore Hector (played by Arnold Vosloo). It also stars Rashmika Mandanna, and releases in theatres on October 16.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Santanu Das

Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and film festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several film festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent film/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic. When not watching films or speaking to celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and celebrity culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupecha

Amazon Summer Sale is here! Splurge and save now! Click Here!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
Amazon Summer Sale is here! Splurge and save now! Click Here!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Notifications

Get breaking alerts directly from the newsroom

Notifications are on!You'll be notified when news breaks