Recent Random Post:
Vijay Deverakonda Saved Taxiwala from Being Shelved
Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda recently opened up about the turbulent journey of his 2018 supernatural thriller Taxiwala, revealing how the film nearly got shelved due to creative dissatisfaction—an episode that nearly derailed his early career.
In a candid conversation during a recent podcast, Vijay shared that despite having a blast on the sets and enjoying the shoot, the pre-release phase of Taxiwala was nothing short of a nightmare. “The way it was shot, we had so much fun on the sets. But before the release, it turned into a bitter experience,” he recalled.
Things took a serious turn when veteran producer Allu Aravind, who backed the project under the GA2 Pictures and UV Creations banner, called Vijay with distressing news. “He said, ‘We’re going to shelve the project’ and warned me that my future was at stake,” Vijay recounted. The call prompted him to immediately rush from a film shoot in Chennai to Hyderabad to address the crisis.
According to Vijay, the core issue stemmed from the film’s music and its overall presentation. “The whole team was disappointed. The laughs, the punches, the suspense—none of it landed. Scenes felt awkward, and the sound effects followed the typical Telugu comedy template, which didn’t align with our vision. Everyone felt like we had made fools of ourselves,” he said.
Originally conceived as a futuristic horror comedy, Taxiwala was meant to stand apart from conventional fare. However, the final cut lacked the necessary tone and texture to do justice to that concept. Vijay, who had only three films to his credit at the time, knew that shelving the project would not only waste a promising story but also potentially jeopardize his budding career.
In a decisive move, Vijay convinced Allu Aravind to give the film a second chance. He proposed revamping the music and brought onboard composer Jakes Bejoy, who was based in Chennai. The new score injected fresh energy into the film, aligning it more closely with its original vision. The gamble paid off—Taxiwala was released successfully and went on to become a commercial hit.
Reflecting on that crucial phase, Vijay said, “I truly believed in the story. To see it almost get killed before it could reach audiences was heartbreaking. But I’m glad we fought for it. The result proved that it was worth it.”
Today, Taxiwala is remembered not just for its inventive narrative but also for the resilience and conviction of its lead actor, whose unwavering belief helped bring it back from the brink.
