Vijay Deverakonda On Brad Pitt, Expanding Regional Cinema
3 May 2025 11:05 AM IST3 May 2025 11:05 AM IST
Deverakonda pointed to the dominance of English in global media as a key factor behind Hollywood’s influence and financial muscle — a legacy, he noted, rooted in colonial history.
Vijay Devarakonda (Photo by arrangement)
At WAVES 2025, actor Vijay Deverakonda got candid about the stark pay gap between Indian and Hollywood actors — and the deeper historical forces driving it. “As an actor, I’ve often felt frustrated,” he admitted. “I hope this doesn’t get me into trouble, but I believe we need to expand our kingdom.”
Deverakonda pointed to the dominance of English in global media as a key factor behind Hollywood’s influence and financial muscle — a legacy, he noted, rooted in colonial history.
“The fact that we’re all speaking English today is a huge soft power win for the West. Colonizers ensured their language took hold here centuries ago. Now, it’s too late to undo that.”
Reflecting on pay disparity, he said: “If I do a film and Brad Pitt does a film, he’ll be paid a hundred times more — not because he’s better, but because more people speak and consume content in his language. That’s not my fault — it’s the fault of history and those who spread that language.”
Deverakonda also touched on the cultural role of Indian cinema: “If our ancestors had pushed Hindi or Telugu onto the global stage, things might’ve looked very different today. I have a bit of a grouse. But at least cinema still helps us stay rooted in our language.”
His remarks struck a chord with audiences, sparking dialogue on linguistic legacy, global influence, and the future of Indian cinema on the world stage.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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