There’s no denying that Mollywood actor Venkitesh VP has left a striking impression on Telugu audiences with his performance as Murugan in Kingdom, the latest film starring Vijay Deverakonda. Appearing as a menacing antagonist, Venkitesh brought a raw, unsettling energy to the role that instantly caught the attention of Telugu audiences. His presence was powerful, his dialogue delivery impactful, and his screen time, though limited, was enough to spark conversations about Tollywood discovering a promising new villain actor.
However, what many might not know is that Kingdom is not the first Telugu film Venkitesh signed. Long before this theatrical debut, he had already stepped into the world of Telugu cinema, only to be left waiting in the wings. The opportunity came all the way back in 2018, after his music album Mukilae received modest attention. Impressed by his screen presence and personality, a director named Veeranji cast him in a Telugu film that was set to begin production by the end of that year.
That film, however, never saw the light of day. Though the initial groundwork was completed, the untitled project was quietly shelved for reasons that never made it to the public. There were no updates, no official announcements, and certainly no release. For Venkitesh, it was a moment of both hope and disappointment, a glimpse of Tollywood that slipped out of reach.
Years passed, and he continued to act in Malayalam films and run his small food business in Thiruvananthapuram, staying grounded even as he waited for the right break. That break finally arrived, not through Veeranji, but through Gowtam Tinnanuri. It was Tinnanuri who cast him in Kingdom, offering him the role of Murugan and, in the process, giving Venkitesh a formal introduction to Telugu audiences. While the 2018 project was meant to be his launch, it was Kingdom, seven years later, that became his actual debut.
Now, with his gripping role in Kingdom, Venkitesh has started receiving the attention he had once been denied. Those who admired his performance are now eager to see him in more intense roles across Telugu cinema. His journey, filled with delays and unexpected turns, seems to have finally entered a new phase. There is a sense of anticipation around what he will do next, and if Kingdom is any indication, Telugu cinema has just begun to tap into what Venkitesh VP truly has to offer.