Vijay Deverakonda marked 10 years since Pelli Choopulu with an emotional message thanking the film’s team and Telugu audiences.
Vijay Deverakonda Remembers Pelli Choopulu Journey
Vijay Deverakonda has celebrated a decade since the release of Pelli Choopulu, the Telugu romantic comedy that transformed his career and established him as a popular leading actor.
The film was released on July 29, 2016, making July 29, 2026, its tenth anniversary. Written and directed by Tharun Bhascker, it featured Vijay as Prashanth and Ritu Varma as Chitra, two young people whose unexpected meeting leads them towards entrepreneurship, personal growth and romance.
Vijay shared photographs and rare memories from the film’s production along with a deeply personal note. He said it felt strange and emotionally overwhelming to realise that audiences had met the characters in theatres ten years ago and continued to share a lasting connection with the movie.
The actor explained that the film’s success gave his younger self validation and confidence. At the time, he was a rebellious dreamer attempting to create a place for himself in the industry, and the audience’s response reassured him that believing in an unconventional career was not foolish.
Vijay Deverakonda Thanks Tharun Bhascker And Team
Vijay expressed particular affection for Tharun Bhascker, saying he missed the filmmaker and remained grateful that they had created Pelli Choopulu together. He described the director as a precious person and said he felt proud of everything Tharun had achieved.
The actor also sent his love to Ritu Varma, Priyadarshi, Abhay Bethiganti, cinematographer Nagesh Banell and music composer Vivek Sagar. He thanked producers Raj Kandukuri and Yash Rangineni for supporting the project when others were reportedly unwilling to take a chance on the young team.
Vijay’s message reflected the strong personal bond he continues to share with the people associated with the film. Rather than treating the anniversary only as a professional milestone, he described it as a reminder of friendships, struggles and opportunities that shaped his life.
He also thanked Telugu audiences for embracing the modestly mounted movie and helping it grow through positive word of mouth.
Pelli Choopulu Became Vijay’s Career Breakthrough
Pelli Choopulu was not Vijay Deverakonda’s first film, as he had appeared in earlier projects including Nuvvila and Yevade Subramanyam. However, it became his major breakthrough as a leading actor and paved the way for films such as Arjun Reddy, Geetha Govindam and Taxiwaala.
The romantic comedy received praise for its natural performances, conversational writing, contemporary characters and refreshing presentation of relationships and ambition. Its success also brought wider recognition to Tharun Bhascker, Ritu Varma, Priyadarshi and several other members of the team.
The film later received two National Film Awards: Best Feature Film in Telugu and Best Screenplay for Dialogues. These honours strengthened its status as one of the most influential Telugu films of its period.
Vijay Deverakonda Says He Feels Different Today
Reflecting on the years since the film’s release, Vijay said he no longer feels like the carefree young man he once was. He described his life as full but admitted that he now carries greater responsibility on his shoulders.
The actor added that his future work would come entirely from the heart because conventional measures of success no longer mattered to him in the same way. He dedicated his message to his directors, family, friends, audiences and the supporters he affectionately calls his “Rowdy” boys and girls.
Ten years after its release, Pelli Choopulu remains special not merely because it became a commercial and critical success, but because it introduced audiences to a new generation of Telugu cinema talent. Vijay’s anniversary message shows that despite his subsequent rise to stardom, the film continues to hold a unique emotional place in his journey.
