EXCLUSIVE: “Vijay Deverakonda is so different from the characters he plays on screen” – Ananya Panday on Liger

February 21, 2022 - 8:46 PM IST

Following the release of Gehraiyaan, Ananya Panday has an even bigger project to look forward to. It is Liger starring Telugu star Vijay Deverakonda who is diving into his first pan-India project, which is releasing in five languages later this year. Ananya is ecstatic about her first pan-India film.

EXCLUSIVE: “Vijay Deverakonda is so different from the characters he plays on screen” – Ananya Panday on Liger

Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, the actress said, "I think that's my first big masala film in that way. I've grown up watching those kinds of films. I've been the biggest fan of David sir [David Dhawan] and Rohit Shetty, so and Farah ma'am [Farah Khan]. I've grown up watching films like Chennai Express and Golmaal, and Housefull. I've always wanted to be a part of those films. For me, Liger is a super popcorn entertaining masala. It's like every genre; it has action, romance, drama, thriller, and comedy. It's in five languages. It's a pan India film. So I really couldn't have asked for anything bigger or better than this. I'm really lucky and fortunate to be a small part of the film."

The actress also said that working with Vijay Deverakonda has been a great experience and that he's so different from his on-screen persona. "He's amazing. I loved him in Arjun Reddy. He's so different from the characters he plays on screen, which I find so interesting. H's very shy; he's quiet, very sweet, and endearing. But he's been an amazing co-star and all of them have made me feel so comfortable venturing into new languages that I don't speak," she continued.

"I think the best quality of Vijay's would be he comes and he does his work. He's not concerned about anything else. He comes, he does his work and he leaves. He's very honest about his work. He is concerned with what's happening in the film, and what's happening with the scene. I don't think I've ever seen him get involved with a lot of the fluff around being an actor. But not to say that the guys I've worked with, don't have the same quality. But I think that's one that stands out in Vijay that I have noticed," she added.

When asked whether she is ready for Liger which is anticipated to be Rs. 100-150 crore box office film, she said, "I, as an audience, I think would love to see a film like Liger. I feel like people do want to watch something fun, light and entertaining, and go with their families and just sit with their popcorn and laugh out loud. So I would be really grateful if I were a part of the film that makes people feel light and happy after watching it."

Ramya Krishnan and Ronit Roy play prominent roles in Liger which is being made in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam languages. Liger is in the last leg of shooting and the makers will release it on August 25, 2022, worldwide.