From Thummanpeta to Stardom:Meet the family behind Vijay Deverakonda’s stardom

Vijay Deverakonda is one of the most popular actors in South Indian cinema, but behind his success is a strong and inspiring family story. His story is not just about fame, but also about the love, support, and sacrifices of his family. Let’s take a look at the story of Vijay Deverakonda’s family and how they helped shape his life.

Vijay Sai Deverakonda was born on 9 May 1989 in Hyderabad, in what was then Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana). His family originally belongs to a small village called Thummanpeta in the Mahbubnagar district (present-day Nagar Kurnool). He grew up hearing stories from his father’s struggles as a small‑town dreamer. His parents instilled in him the value of hard work and humility. Although born in the city, the family maintained close ties to their village roots.

His father, Deverakonda Govardhan Rao, came to Hyderabad from his village because he wanted to become an actor. When acting didn’t take off, he shifted to directing television series and ad films. He even raised funds by convincing village acquaintances to invest in his small TV projects. Though success was limited, he never gave up on his artistic dreams. Vijay regards his father as a major inspiration and says the family is now fulfilling the dream their father left the village to chase “just to be seen on TV”. Govardhan Rao supported his sons emotionally during their uncertain times.

Vijay’s mother is Madhavi Deverakonda, who runs a personality development and soft‑skills training institute called Speak Easy in Hyderabad. She worked hard to support her family through teaching and training people in communication skills. Madhavi’s guidance helped Vijay grow confident, expressive, and articulate. She balanced the family’s cultural values with modern education. As a coach of soft skills, she also influenced Vijay’s stage presence and public speaking. Vijay has said that his mother’s dedication made a strong impression on him as a child.

Vijay has a younger brother named Anand DeveraKonda. Anand initially worked at Deloitte in the United States before joining the Telugu film industry as an actor. The brothers share a close bond and often speak about their father together. In June 2025, Anand emotionally said that he and Vijay are “living the dream their father left his village to chase”. Anand also mentioned how he resembles their father.

Vijay often portrayed his upbringing as middle class and modest. He has shared that while struggling in early career days, he had less than ₹500 in his bank and even had his account locked for lack of minimum balance. He said his father advised him to settle financially before he turned 30. That way he could enjoy success while his parents were still healthy.