Vijay Deverakonda is currently shooting Rowdy Janardhan, directed by Ravi Kiran Kola and produced by Dil Raju. Keerthy Suresh plays the female lead, and the story is set in a Rayalaseema backdrop, specifically around Chittoor. The makers have been mounting the film on a grand scale and have maintained strict secrecy around one key element: the villain.
Now, the suspense seems to be over. According to the latest reports from Tamil media, Dil Raju and the team have finalized Tamil star Vijay Sethupathi as the villain in the film.
Vijay Sethupathi has built a unique career by shifting between lead roles, character roles, and powerful negative characters. His villain roles in Uppena, Vikram, Master and Jawan earned tremendous appreciation, but he has always been selective, refusing to get typecast. Sources say he agreed to join Rowdy Janardhan because the antagonist role is well-written and central to the narrative.
For Vijay Deverakonda, this casting is strategically important. His last few films have performed poorly, and he has not delivered a proper success in nearly seven years. At this point, it has become clear that his stardom and screen presence alone are not enough to pull audiences to theatres. His films need strong supporting characters and equally solid actors for the overall experience to land well with the audience.
Vijay Sethupathi’s entry adds weight and credibility to the film and will likely help in building the right buzz. The film being positioned as a mass-action love story with a strong faction backdrop provides room for intense clashes between the lead and antagonist. The Vijay vs Vijay face-off is expected to be one of the main selling points. Vijay Sethupathi’s presence also gives the film better visibility in Tamil Nadu and across South India.
Rowdy Janardhan will see VD in a raw, rugged mass avatar, in line with the tone and title of the film. The team is currently targeting a Summer 2026 theatrical release. If the director’s execution matches the potential, Rowdy Janardhan could become the much-needed comeback Vijay Deverakonda has been waiting for.
