There’s no denying that Mollywood actor Venkitesh VP has left a striking impression on Telugu audiences with his performance as Murugan, the fierce antagonist in Kingdom, starring Vijay Deverakonda. His raw screen presence, combined with an unsettling calmness, has made him one of the most talked-about villain actors in recent Tollywood memory.
Though his screen time was limited, Venkitesh’s impact was undeniable—his dialogue delivery and menacing body language brought a weight to Murugan that elevated the film’s tension. It didn’t take long for Telugu moviegoers to take notice: Who is this new villain? Where has he been all this time? The Debut That Wasn’t. But what many don’t know is this: Kingdom wasn’t Venkitesh’s first Telugu film. Back in 2018, following the modest success of his Malayalam music album Mukilae, Venkitesh caught the eye of a small-time Telugu director named Veeranji. Impressed by his on-camera persona, Veeranji cast him in a Telugu film that was set to go on floors later that year.
Unfortunately, that project was silently shelved, never making it past pre-production. No press releases. No public explanation. For Venkitesh, it was a classic case of a door opening just long enough to see the possibilities—only to be shut again. Actor by Passion, Entrepreneur by SurvivalWith that dream on pause, Venkitesh returned to Malayalam cinema while simultaneously running a small food business in Thiruvananthapuram. He stayed grounded, patient, and quietly persistent—waiting for that elusive break. It would take seven years for that moment to finally arrive. Kingdom: The Real Beginning Director Gowtam Tinnanuri, known for his eye for casting, saw in Venkitesh what Tollywood had missed. He offered him the role of Murugan in Kingdom, a part that required brutality with brains, and Venkitesh delivered just that. Now, Kingdom is not just a box office success but also a turning point in Venkitesh’s career. He may have been overlooked once, but his arrival this time is impossible to ignore.
What’s Next for Venkitesh VP?
From being a “what if” actor in 2018 to a scene-stealing villain in 2025, Venkitesh’s journey has come full circle. The Telugu film industry seems ready to embrace him. Viewers, filmmakers, and casting directors alike are already imagining what more intense, layered roles he could play.
If Kingdom was the storm, what follows might just be the era of Venkitesh VP in Tollywood.
