Vijay Deverakonda opens up about his unhealthy water cut for Liger and his new role in Ranabaali

Actor Vijay Deverakonda revealed that he followed an unhealthy diet involving severe water cuts during the shoot of his 2022 film Liger. In the movie, which marked his Hindi-language debut and co-starred Ananya Panday, he played an underdog mixed martial arts fighter with a severe stutter. Vijay recalled that he had to slowly cut down on water and spend the last 10 hours before shoots without drinking any water at all, only licking an ice cube. He stated that he drank only 300 ml of water a day during that phase and spent his time thinking only about water, eventually demanding four litres of chilled coconut water instead of food. The actor noted that putting such a high toll on the body hurts even more when the film ultimately fails to perform, as Liger was made on a budget of 125 crore rupees and earned only 60 crore rupees.

Ranabaali Details

Liger was directed by Puri Jagannadh, shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu, and featured a cast including Ramya Krishnan, Ronit Roy, and a cameo by Mike Tyson. Vijay has now undergone another physical transformation for his upcoming film Ranabaali, though he noted it was not as unhealthy as his routine for Liger. Directed by Rahul Sankrityan and set in 19th-century South India, Ranabaali explores a British-made famine. Vijay plays a furious rebel and freedom fighter from a royal lineage who rises up to protect his starving people against the cruel British commissioner, Sir Theodore Hector, played by Arnold Vosloo. The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna and is scheduled to release in theatres on October 16.

Context

Physical transformations are a common demand for actors taking on intense action or biographical roles in the film industry, often requiring strict dietary restrictions and dehydration techniques. While these methods are sometimes used to achieve a lean or sharp look on camera, fitness and health experts frequently warn about the severe risks such extreme routines pose to an actor's physical and mental well-being.