Vijay Deverakonda has addressed the criticism he received for adding "The" to his name, explaining his initial resistance to adopting any tag. The Telugu actor, known for his independent approach, revealed that he preferred to be identified simply by his name.

During the release of Liger, Deverakonda's team suggested using a tag, as others in the industry were already coining names for him. He initially resisted, wanting to be known only by his name. He recalled how the press would call him "Southern Sensation," "Rowdy Star," and other variants, which he found limiting. To avoid grand or conventional tags, he suggested simply using "The" before his name. However, this also drew backlash. He eventually instructed his team to drop all titles and refer to him as Vijay Deverakonda, as that is how he wishes to be known.

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter India, Deverakonda said, "That was one whole situation in itself". Despite the scrutiny, the actor remains committed to staying true to himself.

In related news, Vijay Deverakonda recently faced legal action and public criticism for comments made at a promotional event. He allegedly made a derogatory statement about tribal communities while referencing the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Following the backlash, he issued a public apology and clarification, stating that his remarks were not intended to hurt or target any community, particularly the Scheduled Tribes, whom he deeply respects. He explained that he used the word "tribe" in its historical context, referring to ancient societies, and not in reference to India's Scheduled Tribes.

Earlier this year, Deverakonda also voiced his opinion on the dominance of English and advocated for the global rise of Hindi and Telugu cinema. He criticized Western imperialism for enforcing English as the dominant language and suggested that expanding Indian languages through cinema could boost India's cultural influence. He used Brad Pitt as an example to highlight Hollywood's budget and pay disparities.

Deverakonda's film Arjun Reddy previously sparked controversy, with some critics labeling it as misogynistic. However, the actor has defended the film, stating that his job was to understand and portray the character, not to judge him. He believes that the film's objective was to create conversation and emotional impact, regardless of the viewpoint.

Currently, Vijay Deverakonda is preparing for the release of his upcoming film, Kingdom, scheduled to hit theaters on July 31.