“Bheema is a reflection of my own style as a filmmaker,” says Duniya Vijay about his upcoming directorial

By virtue of his stints as a director, Duniya Vijay has managed to create a niche for himself in the Kannada Film Industry. Joining the likes of Upendra, Kiccha Sudeep, etc., Vijay has lent his own acting career a new edge by taking on the director’s role and is currently in pursuit of bringing stories to life that resonate with him. The first endeavor in this regard came in the form of Salaga, a gritty yet mainstream venture that saw Vijay play the titular role and unravel the present Bengaluru underworld milieu through the lenses of revenge and violence. Despite the delay in its release, Salaga managed to reap positive reviews from the critics and audiences alike, thus encouraging him to pick a new, riveting topic for his second outing as a director.

Titled Bheema, the new film would be Duniya Vijay’s 28th acting credit and another sincere attempt at telling a poignant story from the streets of Bengaluru. “The subject is a relevant one, especially to the youth, and will always remain so,” he says, remaining reluctant of sharing much about the film’s storyline. The posters and other publicity material of Bheema do reveal the angsty and bloodied side of the film, and to make things more interesting, Vijay is offering an eclectic cast that includes names like Black Dragon Manju, Gili Gili Chandru, and Girija.

“I was a fresh face myself many years ago and had always sought good opportunities as an actor. So, at the time when I can reciprocate as a director, it’s my pleasure to introduce fresh and credible talent each time I make a film,” wrote Duniya Vijay in his post while introducing one of the Bheema characters.

At the same time, the “Duniya” tag remains attached to Vijaya Kumar’s name and one wonders if he still carries the experience of making the 2007 film with him. When asked about whether Bheema will have traces of Suri’s Duniya in terms of tone and treatment, Vijay was quick to quash that perspective.

“I don’t think one can make a film like Duniya again – not just because it’s a great film but also that I am not trying to make a film like that again. Bheema is a complete reflection of the style and sensibility I have developed over the years, something that I have gathered over the years by observing my directors. It’s a film based on a story I have conceived so the visual aspect too will remain personal,” he adds.

Duniya Vijay is currently juggling between Bheema and his grand Telugu debut alongside Nandamuri Balakrishna. The latter, tentatively titled NBK107, has Vijay playing the antagonist Musali Madugu Pratap Reddy, and the shooting of the film is expected to be wrapped up by September.