Latest news with #NayikaNayakan
The Hindu
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Actor Venkitesh VP on playing the villain in Vijay Devarakonda-starrer ‘Kingdom'
After participating in Nayika Nayakan, a talent hunt show that aimed to find lead actors for veteran Malayalam director Lal Jose's film, Venkitesh VP, affectionately known as Venky, had limited acting gigs. While he was offered multiple roles, he decided to wait for projects that excited him. In the meantime, Venky delivered pothichoru (Kerala-style wrapped lunch) with his friend and worked as a light boy for a wedding photographer, earning ₹200 to 300 a day, without his parents knowing. Things took a turn for the actor when he was called to meet Gowtam Tinnanuri after one of his associates showed him pictures of Venky as a villain in a Tamil movie. Immediately after their first meeting, Gowtam signed him on as Murugan, the psychopathic antagonist in his Kingdom. The film, starring Vijay Devarakonda, is running successfully in theatres. And Venky? He is on cloud nine after delivering a stellar performance as a bigoted smuggler, forced to live in the shadow of his father. 'On the first day, when we went to watch the movie in a theatre in Hyderabad, the crowd applauded my intro; that was the biggest highlight for me in all this. It felt great to get that response as a newcomer,' says Venky, who made his Telugu debut with Kingdom. The actor has worked in multiple Malayalam films and one movie in Tamil. His notable works include his roles in The Priest, starring Mammootty, and Kho-Kho, a sports drama starring Rajisha Vijayan. 'A few years ago, I acted in a Telugu movie which was never released, that's how I learned to speak the language a bit. I don't know grammar or rules. I memorised the dialogues, which helps with my fluency,' says Venky, who also dubbed for Murugan in Tamil. 'When it gets an OTT release and if there is a Malayalam version to it, I want to dub that too.' Venky showers praise on his crew. 'Gowtam sir is a brilliant technician, and very clear on what he wants. He will lead you to what he's expecting from you as an actor, and keep refining your performance.' He considers his costars, Vijay and Satyadev, great performers. 'Vijay is someone who supports his co-actors. When my character poster was released, he reshared it, praising my performance. He even reshared a reel posted by me with my mother in it. That was a surprise too.' Actor Satyadev shared his experience of working on Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya, the Telugu remake of Maheshinte Prathikaram, with Venky. One of Venky's biggest highlights of working on Kingdom was getting to be part of an Anirudh musical. 'Some time ago, my friends invited me to attend a concert by Anirudh. I was unable to go then. I told my friends 'It's alright. I will work on a movie with him.' I didn't think it would happen so soon,' he says, lauding the musician's impact in elevating several moments in the movie. 'I had a background music specifically for me.' Origin story Venky, who hails from West Fort in Thiruvananthapuram, is the only child of the late V Pichumani and Tharakumari S. During his early days, he was not active in extracurricular activities. He fell in love with cinema in college. 'Despite being an only child from a lower-middle-class family, my parents did not stop me when I expressed my desire to act. They said, 'Finish your post-graduation and do whatever you want.' For eight years, till I was 28, I earned ₹20,000 a year, acting in small roles or working on a daily wage,' says the 31-year-old actor. Venky said his parents were always supportive. 'They kept telling me, you will find something, even if we have some financial difficulties, we will figure it out. Even when my movies were dropped, they would still tell me not to lose hope.' 'Even when I wasn't earning, I was treated like a Mammootty or a Rajinikanth at home,' jokes Venky, who was firm on only acting in movies he wanted to. 'I have wished for this moment for a long time. I am receiving a lot of appreciation for my performance, my phone is always ringing, and my mother is delighted,' says Venky, who is looking for his next project.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Venkitesh VP? Meet the Malayalam reality show star making his Telugu debut with Vijay Deverakonda's 'Kingdom'
Venkitesh VP, a Malayalam actor known for his versatility since the reality show 'Nayika Nayakan,' is making waves with his Telugu debut in 'Kingdom' alongside Vijay Deverakonda. His heartfelt speech at the pre-release event in Hyderabad, detailing his nine-year journey from background roles to this significant opportunity, has gone viral. The Telugu film industry is abuzz with the upcoming release of Kingdom, starring Vijay Deverakonda . But one of the biggest surprises during the film's pre-release event in Hyderabad wasn't just the leading man, it was Venkitesh VP , a rising Malayalam actor who delivered a heartfelt and powerful speech that has since gone viral on social media. Venkitesh VP first shot to fame in Kerala through the Malayalam talent-hunt reality show Nayika Nayakan, helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Lal Jose. With prominent names like Kunchacko Boban mentoring the contestants, the show quickly became a favorite among Malayalam TV viewers. Venkitesh stood out from the very beginning, impressing audiences with his versatility, whether in emotional scenes, comedy sketches, or transformative performances. One of his most memorable acts was in the 'Naan Shanmughi' round, where he performed in drag, stunning judges and viewers alike. His comedic portrayals, especially as the character Sabu in a skit round and a hilarious newlywed groom in the 'Premam' round, were equally well-received, making him one of the show's standout finalists. After Nayika Nayakan, Venkitesh transitioned into Malayalam cinema, taking on notable roles in films such as Stand Up, The Priest, and Lovefully Yours Veda. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A modern mainframe engineered for the AI age - Modernization without disruption CIO | Rocket Software Undo His screen presence and ability to immerse himself in diverse characters gained him a loyal fan following. He later returned to television as the host of the popular game show Udan Panam. Expanding his footprint beyond Kerala, Venkitesh made his Tamil film debut with Rebel, starring GV Prakash. While steadily growing his acting career, Venkitesh is also known for his entrepreneurial side, he runs an idli truck in Thiruvananthapuram. Now, Venkitesh is all set to make his Telugu cinema debut in Gowtam Tinnanuri 's highly anticipated film Kingdom, headlined by Vijay Deverakonda. He plays the role of Murugan, a character that, according to Vijay himself, left a lasting impression. Introducing Venkitesh on social media, Vijay Deverakonda wrote, 'World - I wanted to introduce you all to @venkitesh_vp AKA 'MURUGAN'. It's just his 4th film, but when I shared scenes with him, he made me feel like I was in his world. Deadly actor, ferocious eyes and energy, sweet soul. He will make a strong mark.' At the Kingdom pre-release event in Hyderabad, Venkitesh addressed the massive crowd in Telugu — a language not native to him — and shared his emotional journey. From being a background artist in TV serials to finally landing a major role in a Telugu film, he revealed that the road took him nine long years. 'This is the first time I've seen such a large crowd. I've always dreamt of this moment. I started with one or two lines in serials, then moved on to small roles in films, played a villain in a Tamil movie, and now I'm here in Kingdom,' he said. He also expressed his ambition to become a lead actor someday, adding, 'I am so proud of myself. I just want to see myself as a star. Directors and producers, please consider me. Naa intro ki clap cheyyandi (Please clap for my introduction)!'
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ann Saleem on Nayika Nayakan: The show felt like a rehearsal for the future, it taught us fame isn't permanent
Remember that hilarious conversation between Lissy Mammen and Susan at the beauty parlour? Yes, the one from Nayika Nayakan! Even after all these years, that iconic skit by Ann Saleem and Meenakshi continues to rack up views online. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Since their time on the talent show, each contestant has gone on to chase their dreams in acting, whether it's in films, television, or OTT platforms, they're making their mark everywhere. We caught up with Ann Saleem for a nostalgic trip down memory lane. 'I feel incredibly grateful to have been part of the show. I don't think anyone else could be as blessed to have experienced such a journey. We were so young, full of passion and a burning thirst for acting. There were many moments when I wondered, 'Why did they choose me?' But looking back, it was the biggest opportunity any aspiring actor could ever dream of," she gushed. As memories came flooding back at the mere mention of Nayika Nayakan, we asked Ann to pick one of her most memorable performances from the show. 'Without a doubt, the Avvai Shanmughi round with Venki. Performing the dance in the male avatar was absolutely hilarious and unforgettable. We had such a blast!," Ann recalled with a laugh. Speaking about the viral performance in her Susan avatar alongside Meenakshi, Ann revealed that the skit actually stemmed from one of their casual, random conversations. 'Back in school, we used to have a blast mimicking those 'society ladies' who brag about their lives in that signature tone. During one of our casual chats, I slipped into that mode, and Meenakshi responded so perfectly—it just clicked. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now We then took the idea to the director, and he loved it too. That's how we built a storyline around it. Even now, people still talk about it, and we're so glad we went ahead with it,' Ann shared. If there's one thing that makes us all a little jealous of the Nayika Nayakan contestants, it's the way they've managed to maintain such a strong bond with each other. Even today, many of them continue to set major BFF goals with their unbreakable friendship and constant support for one another. 'Every friendship we built on the show is for life. We never saw each other as competitors, we just wanted everyone to give their best. If Vishwa was great at dance, we'd all go to him for tips. If Vincy nailed humour, she'd help us out. We were truly a team. Even though our paths have diverged, we're all doing what we love, and each person's success or setback feels personal to the rest of us. And it's not just among the contestants, sir is still the same. He treats us like his own, and that warmth hasn't changed one bit,' the actress added. To wrap up our chat, we asked Ann about the one lesson Nayika Nayakan had taught her. Without missing a beat, she replied, 'Fame isn't permanent.' 'The show taught us so much. Honestly, it felt like a rehearsal for the future—a trailer for what 'life in the limelight' would be like. Back then, we were all new to the world of online comments. I still remember after my first performance, the very first comment on YouTube was, 'That brown coat girl is going way overboard.' It hit me hard. But after my second performance, the feedback turned positive. So, we all learned not to take online comments to heart, whether they're good or bad. These little experiences taught us that fame isn't permanent,' she concluded.
