Finding strong villain roles is hard, and I am glad to be playing one: Vijay Kumar

The actor, who is making his Tollywood debut with Veera Simha Reddy, talks about working in the film, playing a negative character, his equation with NBK, and more
Actor Vijay Kumar started his career playing negative roles. In his latest project, Veera Simha Reddy, he will lock horns with Telugu actor Balakrishna, or NBK. The mass entertainer, set in Rayalaseema, features Shruti Haasan as female lead.
“We are currently shooting in Ananthpur. I see an ocean of people coming down daily to catch a glimpse of NBK, their favourite hero. It is a surreal feeling. He is very humble, inspiring and dedicated like Shivarajkumar. He gave a `100-crore film at the age of 60 (Akhanda)! That is pure dedication. I had heard a lot about him, but after working with him, I can say that NBK is a legend in every sense. He is very humble while interacting with other artistes and pats our backs when we do a good job. Above all, he is a wonderful human being,” says Vijay.
As Musalimadugu Pratap Reddy in the film, Vijay plays a barbaric man. “It is not just a character with a ‘negative shade’. I am one of the pillars of the film. Strong villain characters are a rare find these days, and I am glad I got to play one. That’s all I can reveal for now. Since I know Telugu, it wasn’t difficult for me to blend in. I may also dub for the film,” he adds. The film is in the final leg of its shooting schedule, and the makers are eyeing a Sankranthi release.
Vijay believes that Gopichand Malineni, being a commercial director, loves to experiment, and his vision is quite amazing. “I am glad he picked me for this role. I have a very rugged look in the film. The team had fashioned two or three looks, and we finalised one that matches the energy of my role. Gopichand takes a lot of time to select artistes for his films, but he picks the right person. He is the epitome of patience. I grew up watching Rajkumar and NTR films in tents. Unfortunately, I could not work with them, but it is a dream come true getting to work with their children,” he concludes.
Strong heroes need strong villains: Director Gopichand Malineni
Gopichand Malineni, who is known for commercial flicks like Krack, Balupu, and Don Seenu, claims Veera Simha Reddy is a pure commercial entertainer set in a fictional backdrop. “NBK plays a larger-than-life, strong character. So, we knew we needed a strong villain who is equally powerful, to give the film an extra boost. That is how we zeroed in on Vijay. I have seen his films like Duniya, Mastigudi, and Salaga. He is perfect for the role,” says Gopichand.

The director is overjoyed by the collaboration with Vijay. “Though he plays a villain on screen, he is very down-to-earth, kind, and helpful in real life. We connected very well on the first day itself,” he says.